Art and Culture of Prehistory to Ancient Rome

Venus Pendant

Location: Chauvet Cave, End Chamber, France; circa 35,000 to 26,000 BCE; Period: Paleolithic

Woman from Willendorf

Austria; circa 24,000 BCE; Period: Paleolithic; Portable bc of its small size; May be associated with fertility

Hall of the Bulls

Location: Lascaux Cave, France; circa 15,000 BCE; Period: Paleolithic; Combine different angles/perspectives and stray away from just representing how the eyes see it to provide more information on the appearance of the bulls

Stele of Hammurabi

Susa (Shush, Iran); c.1792-1750 BCE; Period: Babylonian; full stele about 7' tall, diorite; Hammurabi giving stele/record of his law to god

Uruk Vase

Uruk (Warka, Iraq); circa 3000 BCE; Period: Sumerian; alabaster, 36 in.; Hierarchical scale in both registers/size

Standing male worshiper

Square Temple, Eshnunna (Tell Asmar, Iraq); circa 2900-2600 BCE; Period: Sumerian; 11 5/8 in. high; Not a portrait but a stand-in/offering of devotion

Standard of Ur

Royal tomb, Ur; circa 2600-2500 BCE; Period: Sumerian; Hollow box, could either be for royal tomb or sacrifice

Stela of Naram-Sin

made in Sippar (Iraq), taken as war booty to Susa (Shush, Iran); circa 2250 BCE; Period: Akkadian; 6'6" high, limestone, low relief

Standing Gudea with gushing vase

Girsu (Tello, Iraq); circa 2100 BCE; Period: neo-Sumerian; diorite, 28 in.; Gushing vase symbol = Flooded rivers that fertilize the land

Lamassu

Palace of Ashurnasirpal II, Kahlu (Nimrud, Iraq); c.875-860 BCE; Period: neo-Assyrian; Limestone, giant carved block; Apotropaic - Wards off Evil

Ashurnasirpal II and Sacred Tree

throne room, Palace of Assurnasirpal II, Kahlu (Nimrud, Iraq); circa 875-860 BCE; Period: neo-Assyrian

Reconstruction drawing of the citadel and palace complex of Sargon II

Dur Sharrukin (Khorsabad, Iraq); c.721-706 BCE; Period: neo-Assyrian

Ashurnasirpal II Killing Lions

throne room, Palace of Assurnasirpal II, Kahlu (Nimrud, Iraq); c.875-860 BCE; Period: neo-Assyrian; Rulers role as hunter

Enemies Crossing River to Escape Assyrian Archers

throne room, Palace of Ashurnasirpal II, Kahlu (Nimrud, Iraq); c.875-860 BCE; Period: neo-Assyrian; Flee while they stand guard

Narmer Palette

Hierakonpolis (Egypt); circa 3000 BCE; Period: Predynastic; height 25 in.

Documenting the Unification of Egypt

Ruler was wearing Upper Egypt crown and then Lower Egypt Crown.

Khafre

Giza (Egypt), from valley temple of Khafre, circa 2520-2494 BCE, Period: Old Kingdom.

Ka Statue

Wearing full regalia on his throne.

Windpipe

Lung.

Aquatic Plants

Symbolize Egypt.

Falcon

Represents Kingship; is a God (Horus) holding up his neck, solidifying their connection.

Papyrus + Lotus Leaves

Symbolize unification.

Nemes Headdress

A ceremonial headpiece worn by pharaohs.

Ti Watching a Hippo Hunt

Saqqara (Egypt), from Mastaba Tomb of Ti, circa 2450-2325, Period: Old Kingdom.

Ruler's Scale

Balances the boat.

Seated Scribe

Saqqara (Egypt), circa 2450-2325 BCE, Period: Old Kingdom.

Egyptian Canon

Reserved for royalty and gods.

Conventional Position of a Scribe

Is sitting.

Great Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure

Giza (Egypt) on the edge of the modern city of Cairo, circa 2551-2472 BCE, Period: Old Kingdom.

Desert

Part of the mummification process.

Limestone + Geometry

Might represent the sun rays for the sun god.

Menkaura and Queen

Giza, Egypt, Menkaura Valley Temple, circa 2490-2472 BCE, Period: Old Kingdom.

Tutankhamun's Inner Sarcophagus

Thebes (Luxor, Egypt), from Tomb of Tutankhamun, circa 1332-1322 BCE, Period: New Kingdom.

Mouth-Opening Ceremony

From Book of the Dead of Hunefer, Thebes (Luxor, Egypt), circa 1285 BCE, Period: New Kingdom.

Seated Statue of Hatshepsut

Thebes (Luxor, Egypt), circa 1479-1458 BCE, Period: New Kingdom.

Daughter of Amun Re

Statue has more feminine features than others with ambiguous chest/masculine features/male skin color.

Funerary Temple of Hatshepsut

Thebes (Luxor, Egypt), circa 1479-1458 BCE, Period: New Kingdom.

Colossal Figure of Akhenaten

Karnak, near Thebes (Luxor, Egypt), circa 1353-1336 BCE, Period: New Kingdom, Amarna Period.

Height of Colossal Figure

7 feet 10 inches high.

Androgynous

A term describing a blend of masculine and feminine characteristics.

Crook and Flail

Sign of pharaonic authority.

House altar

A private altar featuring Akhenaten, Nefertiti, and their daughters.

Akhetaten

An ancient city in Egypt, also known as Amarna, established circa 1340 BCE during the New Kingdom, Amarna Period.

Thutmose, Model Bust of Nefertiti

An unfinished bust made using stone and plaster, with paint over the plaster, from circa 1340 BCE.

Nebamun Hunting in the Marshes

A painting from Thebes (Luxor, Egypt) circa 1350 BCE, depicting flora and fauna with a cat pouncing/hunting.

Temple of Ramses II

A temple located in Kush (Abu Simbel, Egypt), created as a colonizing gesture circa 1244-24 BCE.

Bastis Master, female figure

A marble figure from the Cycladic Islands, Greece, circa 2600-2400 BCE, characterized by highly abstract art.

'Palace' Complex

An architectural site in Knossos, Crete, Greece, unearthed by Arthur Evans, dating circa 1700-1450 BCE.

Bull Leaping

A wall painting from Knossos, Crete, Greece, circa 1550-1450 BCE, depicting the Minoan enjoyment of bulls.

Bull Leaper

A bronze figure about 6 inches long, created using the lost wax casting method, from Crete, Greece, circa 1600-1450 BCE.

Girls Gathering Saffron Crocus Flowers

A scene depicting the initiation of girls into adulthood, circa 1650-1625 BCE in Greece.

Snake Goddess

An earthenware (ceramic) figure from Knossos, Crete, Greece, measuring 13 1/2 inches, dating 1700-1450 BCE.

Dress

Different textiles weaved together.

Citadel

Great fortifications with only one entrance.

Cyclopean Masonry

Made of massive irregular blocks.

Corbeled arch

An architectural feature using a series of corbels to support a structure.

Post and lintel

A building system where a horizontal beam is supported by two vertical posts.

Vapheio cup

Gold cup excavated from a tholos tomb, featuring repousse metalwork.

Repousse

Metalwork hammered into relief from the reverse side.

Pylos Combat Agate

A seal stone found in a grave, believed to represent a warrior's signature.

Hirschfeld Workshop

A workshop known for creating geometric kraters.

Geometric krater

A type of vase that could serve as a gravemaker, with no bottom for pouring offerings.

Kouros

A statue representing a young male, measuring 76 5/8 inches.

Mourning pose

A depiction in art that suggests grief, often represented by a specific body position.

Peaceful vs violent cup

A thematic distinction in the Vapheio cup regarding the depiction of bull capturing.

Exposed chest

A feature that may indicate godliness or normalization in the context of the mother goddess.

Two heraldic lions

Symbolic representations often found in Mycenaean architecture.

Detail on small objects

The unknown technique used to achieve intricate designs on small artifacts.

Fully carved out

360

Sculpted by grid

similar to Egyptian art

Tension

striding forward

Nude

the most beautiful form is the naked human body

Peplos Kore

made near Athens (Greece) for the Athens Acropolis, circa 530 BCE, Period: Archaic

Peplos

garment worn by women

Archaic Smile

not meaning happy, more of a sereness and rising against the world

Exekias, Kylix with Dionysus at Sea

circa 530 BCE, Athens (Greece), Period: Archaic

Kylix

used in a symposium (men only) to hold wine

Dionysus

captured by pirates, turned pirates into dolphins

Priam Painter, Hydria with Women at the Fountain

circa 520 BCE, Athens (Greece), Period: Archaic

Fountain House

women's version of symposium, their sense of community

Hydria

the vessel women use at the fountain house

Foundry Painter, Kylix Depicting Symposium

circa 480 BCE, Athens (Greece), Period: Late Archaic/Early Classical

Kritios Boy

after 480, Athens (Greece), Period: Classical

Contrapposto

counterpose, asymmetrical tension

Myron, Discobolus (Discus Thrower)

Roman marble copy made circa 117-138 CE after circa 470-440 BCE Greek bronze original, Period: Classical

Riace Warrior A

circa 460-430 BCE, Period: Classical

Lost wax method

a technique used in casting

Polykleitos, Doryphoros (Spear Bearer)

Roman copy before 79 CE of Greek bronze from circa 450-440 BCE, Period: Classical

Polykleitos's canon

Male form is most beautiful, prioritizing harmony, balance via mathematics

Doric

The transition from wood to stone, characterized by fat and shorter columns with no base, alternating between Triglyphs (3 lines representing planks) and Metopes (Sculptures).

Example of Doric

Outer Parthenon.

Entasis

Bulging/Convex Curve on the Shaft to balance out the illusion of a concave column from a distance.

Ionic

Long and thin columns with a scroll-like Volute and a Frieze used for storytelling.

Example of Ionic

Parthenon Procession, Pergamon Altar, Erechtheion, Athena Nike Temple.

Corinthian

Characterized by an elaborate ornate capital with acanthus leaves.

Kallikrates and Iktinos, Parthenon

Built between 447-432 BCE in the Acropolis, Athens (Greece), representing the Classical period and following the Doric order.

Metope

Depicted Greek vs Non-Greeks, including Trojans, Giants, Amazonians, and Centaurs (ENEMIES) on the outside of the Doric Parthenon.

Ionic Frieze in Parthenon

Depicted a possible procession, ritual of weaving a garment to present to Athena.

Athena Parthenos statue

More like an offering, not the cult statue, located inside the Parthenon.

Birth of Athena, East Pediment, Parthenon

Created between 447-432 BCE in the Acropolis, Athens (Greece), representing the Classical period.