Ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian Architectural Structures: Zoser, Giza, Karnak, Ur

Architect of Funerary Complex of King Zoser

Imhotep

Location of Funerary Complex of King Zoser

Saqqara, Egypt

Time of Funerary Complex of King Zoser

Old Kingdom

Client of Funerary Complex of King Zoser

King Zoser

The Funerary Complex of King Zoser was primarily constructed from _____ brick.

Limestone

What material originally encased the limestone bricks of Zoser's Funerary Complex?

Polished Limestone topped with Gold

What is the architectural term for a wall capped at its end by a column, as seen in Zoser's complex?

Stubbed Wall

A column that is connected to a wall, like those in Zoser's Funerary Complex, is called an _____ column.

Engaged

What was the primary function (Utilitas) of the Funerary Complex of King Zoser?

King Zoser's tomb

The distinctive form (Venustas) of King Zoser's pyramid is known as a _____ pyramid.

Stepped

The ribbed columns in Zoser's Funerary Complex were designed to imitate what natural material?

Bundles of Reeds

In the North Palace of Zoser's complex, a column represented a Papyrus plant, showing a stem and a _____ as its capital.

Blooming Flower

King Zoser's pyramid is considered an architectural evolution of what earlier tomb structure?

Mastabas

The Pyramid of Khufu is more commonly known by what name?

The Great Pyramid of Giza

Location Great Pyramid of Giza

Giza, Egypt

Time Great Pyramid of Giza

Old Kingdom

Client Great Pyramid of Giza

King Khufu

What structural element was built above the King's Chamber in the Great Pyramid to protect it from the weight above?

Five granite relief chambers

The Great Pyramid of Giza's base was ____

Almost a perfect square

The Great Pyramid of Giza was part of a larger complex that included a Valley Temple, a Mortuary Temple, and a connecting _____.

Causeway

What was the primary function (Utilitas) of The Great Pyramid of Giza?

King Khufu's tomb

Which of the Giza pyramids still has some of its original polished limestone casing at its peak?

Pyramid of Khafre

Location Temple of Khonsu

Karnak, Egypt

Time Temple of Khonsu

New Kingdom

Client Temple of Khonsu

King Ramesses III

List the four main parts of the Temple of Khonsu in order from the entrance.

Pylon, Courtyard, Hypostyle Hall, Sanctuary

A hall with a roof supported by columns; from the Greek 'hypo' meaning 'under'

Hypostyle Hall

What type of construction, featuring vertical supports and horizontal beams, was common in the Temple of Khonsu?

Post and lintel construction

What is the term for the massive gateway of an Egyptian temple, like that at the Temple of Khonsu?

Pylon

The pylons of the Temple of Khonsu have _____, meaning their walls are sloped on all four sides.

Battered walls

A decorative molding that protrudes horizontally, crowning a vertical member of a structure.

Cornice

The columns in the Courtyard of the Temple of Khonsu were shaped like Papyrus stems with _____ for capitals.

Buds

How did the capitals of the columns in the Hypostyle Hall of the Temple of Khonsu differ from those in the courtyard?

They were shaped like open Papyrus flowers instead of buds

The Temple of Amun at Karnak was dedicated to Amun, the father of which god?

Khonsu

The Temple of Khonsu had missing ___ & ___ in front of the pylon

Sphinxes and Obelisks

The exterior of the Temple of Khonsu used to be ___ & have ___

Painted, flags

Location Temple of Amun

Karnak, Egypt

Time Temple of Amun

New Kingdom

Client Temple of Amun

King Seti I & King Ramesses II

How many pylons did the Temple of Amun have

Eight

The Temple of Amun now only contains ___ obelisk and the other was gifted to ___

One, France

Location Ziggurat at Ur

Sumer, Iraq

Time Ziggurat at Ur

21st century BCE

Client Ziggurat at Ur

King Ur-Nammu

The interior of the Ziggurat at Ur was made of mud brick, while the exterior veneer was made of _____.

Baked brick

What was the function of the 'Weep Holes' in the Ziggurat at Ur?

To release trapped moisture from between the bricks

What was believed to be located at the top of the Ziggurat at Ur?

A temple for the moon goddess

The Ziggurat at Ur was surrounded by a _____, which is a sacred wall enclosure.

Temenos

Why was the Ziggurat at Ur believed to be elevated?

To be closer to the heavens

Location Palace of Sargon

Khorsabad, Iraq

Time Palace of Sargon

8th century BCE

Client Palace of Sargon

King Sargon II

What was the primary building material for the Palace of Sargon?

Mud brick and stone

The corners of the Palace of Sargon were deliberately oriented to face the _____.

The cardinal directions

Why was the Palace of Sargon abandoned shortly after its construction?

King Sargon II died in war and his body was never found

The bottom of the walls in the Palace of Sargon were decorated with sculptures and carvings made of what stone?

Alabaster

What are the guardian figures at the Palace of Sargon, depicted as winged bulls with human heads, called?

Lamassus

What feature of the Lamassu figures symbolized their divine status?

horned crowns, which were reserved for gods

Location Ishtar Gate

Babylon, Iraq

Time Ishtar Gate

6th century BCE

Client Ishtar Gate

King Nebuchadnezzar II

The Ishtar Gate was the main northeast entrance into what ancient city?

Babylon

The Ishtar Gate had a mudbrick core and was faced with what decorative material?

Deep blue glazed brick

What is the architectural term for the square-shaped notches at the top of a fortified wall, like those on the Ishtar Gate?

Battlements or crenellations

The lion reliefs on the Ishtar Gate were symbolic of which goddess?

Ishtar

What was the form of writing used in Babylonia at the time of the Ishtar Gate's construction?

Cuneiform

What is the translated meaning of the inscription on the Processional Way leading to the Ishtar Gate?

May the arrogant not flourish/prevail

How many layers did the Ishtar Gate have

Two

Which side of the city was the Ishtar Gate on

East of the Euphrates