Paleolithic, Neolithic, Sumer, Neo-Sumerian, Babylon, Achaemenid Empire, and Egypt (Old Kingdom) Exam Review ARTHC 201

Nude Woman, AKA…

Venus of Willendorf

• Found in Willendorf, Austria

• Paleolithic Age

• Made of limestone

• Stands at 4 3/8”

Believed to be a self portrait or fertility figure but the true purpose is unknown.

Hall of Bulls

• Lascaux Cave in Dordogne, France

• Paleolithic Age

• Paint on limestone

Painted to ensure a successful hunt, also thought to be used for religious rites.

Rhinoceros, Wounded man, and Disemboweled Bison

• Also found in Lascaux Cave in Dordogn, France (along side the Hall of Bulls)

• Paleolithic Age

• Paint on limestone

Purpose is unknown but believed to be depicting a hunting scene or story.

Human skull with restored features

• Found in Jericho

• Neolithic Age

• Featured modeled in plaster painted and inlaid with seashells, life-sized.

Purpose was to commemorate and respect family ancestors.

Stonehenge

• found in Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England

• Neolithic Age

Purpose is unknown but thought to be a sort of temple or observatory.

White Temple

• found in Uruk, Iraq

• Sumer Age

Used to honor the sky god Anu and serve as the center of the city.

Statuettes of Worshippers from the Square Temple

• Found at Eshnunna, Iraq

• Sumer Age

• Made from gypsum

Used to serve as a physical representation of individuals offering prayers to the gods on their behalf.

Standard of Ur

• From tomb 779 at the Royal Cemetery in Ur, Iraq

• Sumer Age

• Made from wood, lapis lazuli, shell and red limestone

• 8” x 1’ 7”

The purpose remains unknown but believed to have been symbolic representation of the power and dual roles of the Sumerian king

Nanna Ziggurat

• found in Ur, Iraq

• Neo-Sumerian Age

• Made of Diorite

Built as a temple and religious center for the moon god Nanna.

Gudea Seated, holding the plan of the temple

• From Grisu, Iraq

• Neo-Sumerian Age

• Diorite

Meant to represent Gudea in temples, to pray for him and receive offerings.

Gudea seated, holding an overflowing water jar

• Found in the Temple of Gershwin-Nanna in Girsu, Iraq

• Neo-Sumerian Age

• Made from Calcite

Symbolizes the prosperity Gudea brings to the people.

Stele with the laws of Hammurabi

• Found in Susa, Iraq (originally in Babylon, Iraq)

• Babylon Age

• Made of Basalt, sits about 7’ 4” high

Shows the king receiving authority from the sun god Shamash. Contains over 300 laws that reflect the culture and issues of ancient Mesopotamia.

Palace of Darius and Xerxes

• found in Persepolis, Iraq

• Achaemenid Empire (Persia) age

It’s a palace. Pretty self explanatory.

Stepped Pyramid of Zoser

• Found in Saqqara

• Egypt—Old Kingdom Age

• Architect: Imhotep

Not simply a grave for the king, but was made to facilitate a successful afterlife for the king so that he could be entirely reborn.

Mankaure and Queen, probably Khamerernebty II

• Found in Giza, Egypt

• Egypt—Old Kingdom

• Made of greywacke and paint

Created to house the couples souls in the after life

Seated Scribe

• found in Saqqara

• Egypt—Old Kingdom

• Painted limestone, wooden nipples, eyes of crystal

A funerary sculpture made for a tomb

Butcher

• found in the Tomb of Irukaptah, Saqqara

• Egypt—Old Kingdom

• painted limestone, knife restored

Meant to accompany the tomb owner into the afterlife.