AP Art History: U2 Ancient Mediterranean

White Temple and its Ziggurat

DOC: 3500-3000 BCE

ROO: Uruk

M: Mud brick

- reg. ppl not allowed in

f(x):

- Anu (sky god) could come down and communicate w/royalty+clergy

Statues of Votive Figures

DOC: 2700 BCE

ROO: Uruk

M: Gypsum inlaid w/shell+black limestone

- hundreds found in temples buried underneath floor

- 1-2 ft tall

- commissioned by donors

- designed in likeness of patrons

f(x):

- placed in temples to pray for the donors in their absence

The Standard of Ur

DOC: 2600-2400 BCE

ROO: Royal tombs @Ur

M: Wood inlaid w/lapis lazuli, shell, red limestone

~20 in.

- registers read from bottom--> top

- 2 sides: war/peace

- War side: king inspects prisoners, chariots run over dead

- peace side: feast, musicians

The Code of Hammurabi

DOC: 1792-1750 BCE

ROO: Babylon

M: Basalt

- akkadian text

- god of sun presents King Hammurabi w/symbols of authority

f(x):

- inscriptions state Hammurabi's law code

Lamassu

DOC: 720-705 BCE

ROO: Citadel in Iraq

M: Alabaster (rock)

- chimaera: face of man, wears jewelry, horns, body of bull, wings of an eagle

- strength of mind/body+ability to fly

f(x):

- support gate/protect citadel

- size/scale: intimidation

- has power to ward off evil/bad luck

Apadana (Audience Hall) of Darius and Xerxes

DOC: 520-465 BCE

ROO: Persepolis, Iran

M: Limestone

- originally had 72 columns, ~65 ft, each had a capital (column topper)--bull, eagle, etc

- relief sculptures on terrace+stairs

- cosmopolitan+organized: shows stability with empire having total power

f(x):

- ceremonial center, citadel, admin/econ center for empire

- Audience hall used for receptions/festivals

House of the Vettii

DOC: 300-200 BCE

ROO: Pompeii, Italy

M: Cutstone, fresco

- lavish/large roman home

- entrance opens up to atrium

- lacks exterior windows (privacy)

- light came from open-air atrium + courtyard

- owned by 2 brothers

Head of a Roman Patrician

DOC: 75-50 BCE

ROO: Italy

M: Marble

- veristic

- realism likely influenced by Hellenistic Greek sculpture

- pinching of brows + stoic eyebrows --> indiv. was unwavering

Augustus (Octavian) of Prima Porta

DOC: 20 CE

ROO: Italy

M: marble (copy of bronze OG)

- propaganda art

- fig. highly idealized: physically+mentally (muscles + breastplate + judges robe)

- breastplate has imagery that shows gods on his side

- face has some infl. of verism

- contrapposto

- cupid+dolphin flank his right leg, show his divine descent from venus

Colosseum

DOC: 72-80 ce

ROO: Rome, Italy

M: Stone+concrete

- modeled similarly to Greek theatre

- use of arches, barrel vaults, groin vaults

- area below amphitheatre: vault to hold animals/prisoners

f(x):

- host elaborate spectacles: reenactments of battles, gladiator fights, executions, fights w/wild beasts

Forum of Trajan

DOC: 110 CE

ROO: Rome, Italy

M: Brick, concrete

- shows rome's stability + power

- forum: public/urban square used to conduct civil+religious business

- built using war loot

f(x):

- commemorate Trajan's success

- serve as the civic, judicial, social heart of rome

Basilica Ulpia

- part of the Forum of trajan

- 2 floors

- served as inspo for archi. of many Christian churches later on

f(x):

- hold law courts

Market of Trajan

- part of the Forum of trajan

- multiple floors

- groin + barrel vaults

f(x):

- hosted many shops + work spaces for public officials

Trajan's Column

- part of the Forum of Trajan

- narrative wraps around column (relief), depicts conquest of Dacians

- modern scholars use it to study weapons/battle tactics

- serves as a monument to power/success of Trajan

f(x):

- Trajan's grave marker

The Pantheon

DOC: 118-125 CE

ROO: Rome, Italy

M: Concrete w/stone facing

- combo of greek elements in porch (pediment, corinthean columns ,frieze)

- roman interior w/rounded dome

- has occulus

- well decorated, painted ceiling, niches for statues of gods/emperors

- would influence many buildings during Italian Renaissance

f(x):

- intended to honor all of the gods

- became place for Catholic worship

- burial place for many kings

Ludovisi Battle Sarcophagus

DOC: 250 ce

ROO: Italy

M: Marble

- v crowded comp. w/figures piled on top of one another --> emulate confusion/chaos of battle

- depicts roman army conquering barbarians

- figs not well prop. --> adds to sense of confusion

- reflective of time period: struggling to maintain upper hand as Roman Empire starts decline

Temple of Minerva and Sculpture of Apollo

DOC: 510-500 BCE

ROO: Italy

M: temple: mudbrick + wood; statue: terracotta

- greek influence: triangular pediment + post/lintel

- columns similar to doric order

- temple raised on podium, had 3 large entrances, each led to small rooms

- statue of apollo: placed on temple roof to show gods being honored

Sarcophagus of the Spouses

DOC: 520 BCE

ROO: Italy

M: Terracotta

- greatest emphasis on upper body

- little anatomical modeling

- statue shows relationship + mutual respect |b| etruscan men/women

f(x):

- holds remains of a married couple

Tomb of the Triclinium

DOC: 480-470 BCE

ROO: Italy

M: Tufa (rock) + fresco

- painting scenes show lively/joyful, frequently depict couples dining/dancing

- setting: rural

- tombs more family based

- tomb walls in etruria share common theme: celebrating life of indiv. thru music/dance

Anavysos Kouros

DOC: 530 BCE

ROO: Athens, Greece

M: Marble

- archaic

- archaic smile

- similar pose to egyptian figs.

- shows ideal warrior

f(x):

- mark a grave of athlete/warrior

- some kouros statues made as offerings to gods/intended to rep gods

Athenian Agora

DOC: 600-150 BCE

ROO: Base of Acropolis, Athens

- public outdoor plaza used for commercial, civic, religious, social f(x)s

- temples, panathenaic way, bouleterion, tholos, stoa

- destroyed when Athens sacked by Persians

f(x):

- structures/fixtures built to support democracy

Peplos Kore

DOC: 530 BCE

ROO: Athens

M: Marble w/remnants of paint

- archaic

- left arm missing, likely projecteed forward (breaks archaic canon)

- archaic smile w/naturalistic face

- rigid frontal pose, wears peplos shawl

- found buried in the acropolis

f(x):

- mark a grave of a woman/an altar for a goddess

Niobides Krater

DOC: 460-450 BCE

ROO: Greece, found in Italy

M: Clay, red-fig. technique w/white highlights

- classical

- isocephalism

- one side: cautionary tale of niobe (bragged she had a lot of kids, god Leto sent his kids to kill Niobe's kids as punishment)

- other side=unsure, maybe Hercules surrounded by warriors

f(x):

- krater used to store/mix water+wine

Doryphoros (spear bearer)

DOC: 450-440 BCE

ROO: Greece, copy: pompeii

M: Originally bronze cast, roman copy: marble

- classical

- contrapposto

- idealized body + proportions

- once carried spear + shield

- shows transition |b| archaic + classical style

The Acropolis

DOC: 447-410 BCE

ROO: Athens, Greece

M: Marble

- classical greek

- includes: the parthenon, temple of Athena Nike, +3 statues (Nike adjusting her sandal; the plaque of the ergastines; helios, Heroes, + Dionysus)

- on a hilltop above Athenian Agora

- built after Persians sacked Athens

Temple of Athena Nike

ROO: Acropolis, Athens, Greece

M: marble

- @ entrance of Acropolis

- amphiprostyle: 4 columns in front+back

- ionic columns

- frieze depicts events of the Marathon victory

f(x):

- commemorative temple: celebrated Greek's victory over Persians @battle of marathon

Parthenon

ROO: Acropolis, Athens, Greece

M: marble

- idealized proportions used in archi. + sculpture

- combines doric+ionic orders

- once housed giant Athena statue plated in gold

- many friezes + pediment sculptures depicting greek gods

Nike Adjusting her Sandal

ROO: Acropolis, Athens, Greece

M: marble

- high relief

- pose awkward if done IRL depicted as gracefully done

- wet drapery

Plaque of the Ergastines

ROO: Acropolis, Athens, Greece

M: marble

- depict events from panathenaic festival

- isocephalism

- ergastines: 6 women in charge of weaving peplos for statue of athena

Helios, Horses, + Dionysus (aka Elgin Marbles)

- triaingular comp.

- originally adorned the pediment of the Parthenon

- depicts birth of Athena from head of Zeus; other gods watch

- contrapposto, wet drapery

Grave Stele of Hegeso

DOC: 410 BCE

ROO: Greece

M: Marble + paint

- classical

- scene is closed, private, domestic --> shows type of life she lived

- contrasts stele's of men which show them in public and warriors (shows societal roles/expectations differed)

- inscriptions above indentify Hegeso + her dad

f(x):

- headstone of grave

Winged Victory (Nike) of Samothrace

DOC: 190 BCE

ROO: Samothrace Island, Greece

M: Marble

- wet drapery

- sense of movement: wind causes her clothes to sweep and catch under wings, garment bunches around leg as she steps forward

- contrapposto

- dramatic usage of negative space

f(x):

- may have commemorated a naval W

Great Altar of Zeus and Athena

DOC: 175 BCE

ROO: Pergamon, Turkey

M: Marble

- Hellenistic

- ionic columns

- altar placed on top of platform elevated by massive flight of stairs

- wrapped in frieze (400ft long, 8ft tall)

- frieze depicts gods conquering over giants in a bid to control the earth

- intended to parallel the conflict + W's of Greeks over their enemies

Alexander Mosaic

DOC: 100 BCE

ROO: Pompeii

M: Mosaic

- likely based off a Greek mural (lost)

- chaotic depiction of Battle of Issus, where Alexander the Great defeated Persians

- shows deep understanding of perspective: horses shown from diff angles, foreshortening

Seated Boxer

DOC: 100 BCE

ROO: Greece

M: Bronze

- hellenistic

- found in public bath

- shows athlete past his prime, has marks of defeat: blood, broken nose + teeth

- looks up in defeat

- shows hellenistic trend of evoking heavy emotion

f(x):

- served as a good luck symbol; athletes may have kissed/touched it for GL

(feet show signs of wear))

Palette of King Narmer

ROO: Egypt

DOC: 3000-2920 BCE

M: Stone (greywacke)

- found in ritual deposit of a temple

- ceremonial version of a normally smaller palette (2ft tall)

- depicts unification of upper/lower egypt

- hierarchy of scale: king towers over opps

f(x):

- tool for mixing eye makeup

Seated Scribe

ROO: Saqqara, Egypt

DOC: 2620-2500 BCE

M: painted limestone

- 1.5 ft

- found in tomb

- unsure if just a symbol of scribe/specific scribe

f(x):

- created to accompany a high-ranking individual

Great Pyramids

DOC: 2550-2490 BCE

ROO: Giza, Egypt

M: cut limestone

- likeley modeled after the symbol of the cult of Ra (sun god)

f(x):

- monuments + tombs to deceased pharaohs Menkaure, Khufu, Khafre

Great Sphinx

DOC: 2500 BCE

ROO: Giza, Egypt

M: limestone

- composite human-animal fig. (body of lion, head of a god/human)

- missing parts of face, evidence of deliberate removal

Khufu's pyramid

DOC: 2551-2528 BCE

ROO: Giza, Egypt

M: limestone

- tallest of the pyramids of Giza

- flanked by 3 queens' pyramids + several boat pits

- 2 chambers

Menkaure's pyramid

DOC: 2490-2472 BCE

ROO: Giza, Egypt

M: limestone

- shortest of the pyramids

- flanked by 3 queens' pyramids

- complex internal architecture

Khafre's pyramid

DOC: 2550 BCE

ROO: Giza, Egypt

M: Limestone

- slightly smaller than Khufu's

- flanked by Sphinx

King Menkaure and Queen

DOC: 2490-2472 BCE

ROO: Giza, Egypt

M: greywacke

- high relief carved from single stone

- similar height= equal in status

- male fig. is idealized (lean, muscular), stands in canonized pharaoh pose

Temple of Amun-Ra and Hypostyle Hall

DOC: 1550-1250 BCE

ROO: Karnak, Egypt

M: cut sandstone + mud brick

- hypostyle hall: rows of tightly arranged columns held tog. w/stone lintels

f(x):

- principal religious center dedicated to amun-ra + other gods

Akhenaten, Nefertiti, and Three Daughters

DOC: 1353-1335 BCE

ROO: Egypt

M: limestone

- artwork shows changes to the Egyptian canon: thin figures, androgynous, heavily lidded eyes

- depicts intimacy between Akhenaten, Nefertiti, daughter

Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut

DOC: 1473-1458 BCE

ROO: Luxor, Egypt

M: Sandstone, red granite

- carved directly out of the side of a cliff

- 3 columned terraces connected by 2 ramps

- temple decorated w/reliefs that celebrates achievements

f(x):

- tribute to Hatshepsut's reign + her achievements

Innermost Coffin of Tutankhamun

DOC: 1323 BCE

ROO: Valley of the Kings, Egypt

M: Gold w/inlay of semi precious stone

- back is inscribed w/spells from book of dead

- false beard, headdress, cobra motifs = symbols associated w/ the pharaoh

Last Judgment of Hu-Nefer

DOC: 1275 BCE

ROO: Egypt

M: painted papyrus scroll

- part of the book of the dead

- depicts narrative of Hu Nefer's journey: led to scale by Anubis, where his heart is weighed against the Feather; Thoth records