Looks like no one added any tags here yet for you.
Paleolithic
The period of the Stone Age associated with the evolution of humans. It predates the Neolithic period.
Neolithic
The period of the Stone Age associated with the ancient Agricultural Revolution. It follows the Paleolithic period.
Megalithic
A large stone used in some prehistoric architecture
radiocarbon dating
a chemical analysis used to determine the age of organic materials based on the amount of carbon-14 present
adobe
sun-dried mud brick
register
a horizontal band, often on top of another, that tells a narrative story
votive
an offering in accordance with a vow or prayer
hierarchy of scale
a system of representation that expresses a person's importance by the size of his or her representation in a work of art
Stele
A carved stone slab used to mark graves or to commemorate historical events.
Ziggurat
massive pyramidal stepped tower made of mudbricks. It is associated with religious complexes in ancient Mesopotamian cities, but its function is unknown.
Heiroglyph
the Egyptian way of writing using symbols
Necropolis
A large ancient cemetery
Mastaba
An ancient Egyptian tomb with sloped sides and a flat roof. Has an underground burial chamber with rooms above it filled with offerings.
Ka
A statue of a human or gods spirit that survived with the soul
Serdab
An ancient Egyptian tomb that served as a chamber for the Ka statues.
Stepped pyramid
a pyramid consisting of several rectangular structures placed on top of one another
Sarcophagus
a stone coffin, typically adorned with a sculpture or inscription and associated with the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Rome, and Greece.
Obelisk
a stone pillar, typically having a square or rectangular cross section and a pyramidal top, set up as a monument or landmark.
Book of the Dead
Ancient Egyptian funerary text written on papyrus (new kingdom)
material culture
tangible, physical items produced and used by members of a specific culture group and reflective of their traditions, lifestyles, and technologies
Zoomorphic
having or representing animal forms or gods in animal form
Dogu
Small human figurines made in Japan during the Jomon period. Shaped from clay, the figures have exaggerated expressions and are in contorted poses. They were probably used in religious rituals.
Fang ding
a square or rectangular bronze vessel with four legs; used for ritual offerings in ancient China during the Shang dynasty
Taotie
a mask with a dragon or animal-like face common as a decorative motif in Chinese art
corbeled roof
a roof made of stone slabs that progressively overlap to create a door opening
Tholos
A temple with a circular plan. Also, the burial chamber of a tholos tomb.
fresco
the technique of painting on dry plaster with pigments mixed in water.
incised
carving or engraving
relief
a sculptural method in which the sculpted pieces are bonded to a solid background of the same material to make it look raised
low relief
sculpted relief with figures that project only slightly from the background
high relief
a sculptural relief in which forms extend out from the background quite a bit
sanctuary
A place of protection
peristyle
a colonnade surrounding a building or enclosing a courtyard
stylobate
a continuous base supporting a row of columns in classical Greek architecture.
Cella
the main room of a temple where the god is housed
Enstasis
the slight convex bulge given to a column to offset the optical illusion that it is thinner in the middle
metope
a square space between triglyphs in a Doric frieze.
Capital
top of a column
lost-wax casting
a method of casting metal by a process in which a wax mold covered with clay and fired, leaves a hollow form for metal molds to be made
Doric
Greek architectural order, simple and masculine. Metopes in frieze. Used on exterior of Parthenon
Ionic
Greek architectural order, More feminine and delicate. Scrolls on the capitals Used on inner frieze of Parthenon
Corinthian
Greek architectural order. Acanthus leaves on capitals. Used most often by the Romans.
Frieze
ornamental band on a wall
Pediment
the triangular top of a temple that contains sculpture
Archaic smile
The smile that appears on all Archaic Greek statues from about 570 to 480 BCE. The smile is the Archaic sculptor's way of indicating that the person portrayed is alive.
Karyatid
sculpture of human figure used as architectural support
Krater
An ancient Greek wide-mouthed bowl for mixing wine and water.
Agora
the marketplace in ancient Greece
Contrapposto
A style of Greek sculpture where people are depicted standing and leaning so that the person's weight is being put on one side. People are depicted with their bodies curved like an "S"
Canon of Polykleitos
The renowned Greek sculptor Polykleitos designed a sculptural work as a demonstration of his written treatise, entitled the "Kanon" (or Canon, translated as "measure" or "rule"), exemplifying what he considered to be the perfectly harmonious and balanced proportions of the human body in the sculpted form.
wet drapery
sculpture carvings that appear to cling to the body as if it was wet.
Gigantomachy
In ancient Greek mythology, the battle between gods and giants.
Woman of Willendorf
Austria, 24,000 BCE
Made out of limestone
Symbol of fertility
Royal Standard of Ur
A hollow wooden box with cuneiform writing
Iraq, 2500 BCE
Sumerian
inlaid with a mosaic of shell, red limestone and lapis lazuli
Palette of Narmer
earliest surviving ancient Egyptian artwork
shows the unification of Egypt after a great war
Egypt, 3000 BCE
Law Stele of Hammurabi
Babylon, 1760 BCE
Babylonian
Where all of the laws were written
Ishtar Gate
The entrance gate into Babylon. It was built by Nebuchadnezzar.
Babylon, 600 BCE
lions, dragons, bulls
Colossal Statue of Akhenaten
Thebes, Egypt, 1350 BCE
represents the 18th dynasty pharoah
androgyny
crook and flail
resembles Osiris mummy statues
Last Judgment before Osiris, Book of the Dead
Egypt, 1275 BCE
19th dynasty new kingdom
Drawings and painting on papyrus scroll
Rack of Bells
Marquis Yi, China, 450 BCE
In the late Bronze Age
rang different notes according to size
ritual and sacred music/use
Terra Cotta Army
A group over 8000 clay soldiers with weapons, wagons, etc. built on Emperor Qin's order to guard his tomb in the afterlife.
China, 210 BCE
Light Well in the Palace of Knossos
Crete, 1600 BCE
Minoan, 16th century
open shafts that run the full height of a building, designed to bring light and fresh air into the interior of Minoan palaces and other large buildings
La Venta Throne
Olmec, 800 BCE -high relief figure seated in a niche -motifs -likely to have expressed the idea of a cave to the underworld
Iktinos and Kallikrates
Architects of the Parthenon
Parthenon, Athens, 440 BCE
Athens, Greece
Polykleitos, Doryphoros (Spear Bearer)
450 BCE
Classical period
Artist/Architect: Polykleitos
Pompeii, Italy
depicts human movement; Imposes Polykleitan style: to perfect human movement, harmonic proportions, cross balance
idealistic, detailed, perfect
Winged Victory (Nike)
Samothrace, Greece, 200 BCE
Hellenistic period, baroque art
sculpted by Pythokritos of Rhodes
Kouros
Greek word for "male youth." An Archaic Greek statue of a standing, nude youth.
Kore
an archaic Greek statue of a young woman, standing and clothed in long loose robes.