AP Art History: Chapter 3 Questions Quiz

How does the Palette of King Narmer describe unification of ancient Egypt

• shows two interwoven female lions with long necks being tethered —> suggests the nations coming together

• lots of symbols of Narmer’s authority + divinely sanctioned power to rule the newly unified country

examples of narmer’s power/authority in palette of king narmer

1. gods/goddesses watching over him and other spiritual symbols on upper portion

2. Bull

3. larger than everyone else

how do the pyramids of the Old Kingdom represent power and authority of the pharaohs

1. Grand style + difficult to make

2. Funerary temple à allows people to make offerings

3. Very stable shape + material à will last forever + is physically strong/stable

4. Buried with so much stuff, gold jewelry etc, that they often used diff methods to keep the stuff safe from thieves

Why was the artistic canon so important?

1. it was the ancient Egyptian standard for making art + was followed for thousands

2. revealed emphasis on king’s power/authority and values of order and stability

3. a way for pharaohs to legitimize their rule and showcase power

how did being represented in the canon represent a pharaoh’s power?

created an idealized, eternal version of themselves

Aspects of the canon

• stable + lack of negative space —> endures over time —> ensures pharaoh’s are recorded in history

• often shown wearing headdress and beard

• static + lack of expression —> shows order and control

• IDEALIZED, youthful, muscular/strong