Unit 2 SG - Anicent China, Buddhist, Islamic, Early Christian, Byzantine pt.2

The Tomb of Qin Shihuangdi

Qin Shihuangdi

Ancient China

1.) Over 700,000 people were employed in preparing the tomb.

2.) The bodies of most soldiers of the tomb were mass produced in molds.

3.) No molded heads were the same. Had different features and hairstyles.

The Great Stupa

Ashoka

Buddhist

1.) Burial mound

2.) A holding place for Buddha’s remains.

3.) The dome evokes the Dome of Heaven.

Colossal Buddha

Unknown artist

Buddhist

1.) His forehead resembles a third eye.

2.) At the top is a mound that symbolizes his spiritual wisdom.

3.) His hands are set in one of the symbolic gestures called mudra.

The Dome of the Rock

Unknown artist

Islamic

1.) Building function is unclear but it is certainly some kind of religious memorial.

2.) Inscriptions decorate its interior.

3.) The golden dome rises above a projecting rock that is surrounded by a walkway.

The Kaaba

Ibrahim

Islamic

1.) Held a sacred black stone that had “fell from heaven.”

2.) Followers of Muslim faith believe that it is their place of origin and that it's the first house of God.

3.) The cube represents the center of the planet and the universe.

The Great Mosque of Cordoba

Abd al-Rahman

Islamic

1.) The arches have a design of alternating stone and red brick voussoirs.

2.) Even though 80 out of 1,200 columns survived, the space looks infinite.

3.) The caliphs of Spain intended their mosque to rival those in Jerusalem, Damascus, and Iraq.

The Good Shepherd

Unknown artist

Early Christian

1.) Symbolizes the protection God has over his flock.

2.) The naturalism represents Classical and Hellenistic traditions.

3.) The shepherd adopts a contrapposto pose.

Church of Santa Costanza

Unknown Artist

Early Christian

1.) The earliest surviving central plan building in the world.

2.) Originally, the central plan was used for shines of some sort.

3.) Ceiling consists of vine like patterns with small scenes.

Hagia Sophia

Justinian

Byzantine

1.) Originally dedicated to Christ as the Holy Wisdom.

2.) Church was transformed into a mosque by Muslim conquerors.

3.) Currently stands as a museum.

Mosaics of Justinian and Theodora

Unknown artist

Byzantine

1.) These mosaics possess a distinct political agenda.

2.) Most intriguing aspect of the mosaics is their composition.

3.) Serves as a propaganda to remind the faithful of the emperor’s divine authority.