History of Art and Costume: Ancient Civilizations (Egypt, Minoan Crete, Greece, and Etruria)

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering historical contexts, clothing constructions, textiles, and jewelry techniques of Ancient Egypt, Minoan Crete, Ancient Greece, and Etruria.

Schenti

A white linen kilt or loincloth worn by men in Ancient Egypt, tied around the waist.

Kalasiris

A long, straight-cut, tight-fitting linen garment worn predominantly by women in Ancient Egypt, available with sleeves, a single shoulder strap, or two straps.

Egyptian Blue

An early synthetic pigment developed in Ancient Egypt, produced by heating silica, calcium, copper, and an alkaline flux to high temperatures.

Crook and Flail

The traditional royal regalia and sacred insignias of the Egyptian pharaoh representing authority, pastoral care, and coercive power.

Ankh

An Ancient Egyptian looped cross amulet and hieroglyphic sign known as the crux ansata, representing the sacred symbol of life and immortality.

Pithos

A massive ceramic storage jar used in Minoan palatial centers to store surplus agricultural products such as olive oil, wine, and grain.

Minoan Female Bodice and Skirt

A female costume consisting of a tight-fitting bodice with short sleeves that cinched the waist and left the breasts exposed, paired with a wide, tiered conical skirt decorated with stripes and geometric motifs.

Neopalatial Loincloth

The principal male garment in Minoan Crete during the Neopalatial period, worn belted around the waist with a front or back hanging flap.

Harvester Vase

A Minoan black steatite ritual stone rhyton discovered in Crete showing a relief carving of an agricultural procession of chanting workers holding winnowing tools and a sistrum.

Fusaiola

A perforated weight made of steatite or terracotta attached to a hand spindle to stabilize rotation and provide downward tension while spinning yarn.

Master of Animals Pendant

A Minoan sheet-gold pendant worked in repoussé relief depicting a nature god grasping two water birds against stylized horns and lotus blossoms.

Polis

The sovereign ancient Greek city-state that functioned as the fundamental political, civic, economic, and religious unit.

Chiton

A versatile ancient Greek tunic constructed from one or two rectangular lengths of linen or wool fabric pinned or stitched along the shoulders and cinched with a belt.

Peplos

A heavy ancient Greek female garment made from a large rectangular length of wool, folded over at the top and secured at each shoulder with fibulae.

Apoptygma

The distinctive deep overfold created at the top of an ancient Greek peplos that hangs over the upper torso.

Himation

A large rectangular mantle of wool or linen worn in ancient Greece and Etruria, draped diagonally over one shoulder or wrapped around the entire body.

Fibula

An ornamental metal brooch or safety pin used to fasten and clasp rectangular draped garments across the shoulders.

Granulation

A specialized goldsmithing technique in which microscopic spherical granules of precious metal are fused onto a jewelry surface to create intricate geometric patterns.

Filigree

A decorative metalworking art form created by curling, twisting, and soldering delicate gold or silver wires into openwork ornamental tracery.

Repoussé

A metalworking method of ornamentation in which thin malleable metal sheet is shaped by hammering from the reverse side to create three-dimensional relief patterns.

Madeleine Vionnet

A prominent French fashion designer known for her innovative bias cut, geometric precision, and fluid garment draping directly inspired by classical Greek drapery.

Tebenna

A distinctive Etruscan curved or semicircular woolen mantle draped around the torso and over one shoulder, serving as the historical precursor to the Roman toga.

Grappolo Earrings

A characteristic style of Etruscan gold earrings decorated with dense clusters of granules and hemispheres arranged in the shape of a bunch of grapes.

Sarcophagus of Seianti Hanunia Tlesnasa

A painted Etruscan terracotta sarcophagus from central Italy dated to 250-150 BC displaying a reclining aristocratic woman adorned with a chiton, himation, and opulent gold jewelry.