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semester one!
What are cave paintings?
Prehistoric images painted on cave walls, often depicting animals and hunting scenes.
What is a henge?
A prehistoric monument consisting of a circle of stone or wooden uprights.
What is a stele?
An upright stone slab or pillar with inscriptions or carvings.
What is a mortar and pestle?
Tools used for grinding and mixing substances.
What does anthropomorphic mean?
Having human characteristics.
What are some common funerary practices in prehistoric times?
Burials in mounds or caves, often with grave goods.
What are religious rituals in prehistoric times?
Ceremonies or practices performed to honor deities or spirits.
What materials were used for cave paintings?
Natural pigments like ochre and charcoal.
What is the significance of the Lascaux cave paintings?
They provide insight into the life and beliefs of prehistoric humans.
How were steles used in prehistoric times?
As markers or monuments, often for religious or commemorative purposes.
What are the differences between SABHAP art?
Stylistic and thematic variations among Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, Hittite, Assyrian, and Persian art.
What is a ziggurat?
A massive stepped tower, often with a temple on top.
What are votive figures?
Small statues offered to deities as a form of worship.
What is the significance of Hammurabi's Code?
One of the earliest written legal codes, inscribed on a stele.
What is glazed brick tile?
Bricks with a glazed surface, often used in decorative architecture.
What is the difference between high relief and bas relief?
High relief sculptures project more deeply from the background compared to bas relief.
What is a hybrid animal-human?
A creature combining features of animals and humans, often seen in Near Eastern art.
What materials were commonly used in Near Eastern art?
Stone, clay, and metal.
How were steles used in the ancient Near East?
To commemorate events, mark territories, or record laws.
What is the significance of the Ishtar Gate?
A grand entrance to the city of Babylon, decorated with glazed brick reliefs.
What does in situ mean?
In its original place.
What is hieratic scale?
A system in which the size of figures indicates their importance.
What is the canon of proportion in Egyptian art?
A set of ideal mathematical ratios in art, used to create proportions in human figures.
What is composite view?
A method of representation in which part of a figure is shown in profile and another part is shown frontally.
What is the Rosetta Stone?
A stone slab inscribed with the same text in Greek, Demotic, and hieroglyphs, key to deciphering Egyptian writing.
What is the difference between Old Kingdom and New Kingdom art?
Old Kingdom art is more rigid and idealized, while New Kingdom art shows more realism and dynamic forms.
What is the Amarna period?
A revolutionary phase in Egyptian art under Akhenaten, marked by more naturalistic and expressive styles.
What is a mastaba?
A flat-topped, rectangular tomb with sloping sides, used in early Egyptian burials.
Who was Narmer?
The first king to unify Upper and Lower Egypt, often depicted in early Egyptian art.
Who was Hatshepsut?
A powerful female pharaoh who ruled during the New Kingdom.
What are the differences between Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic Greek art?
Archaic art is stylized and rigid, Classical art is idealized and balanced, Hellenistic art is more emotional and dynamic.
What are the parts of a Greek temple façade?
The pediment, frieze, and columns (including the base, shaft, and capital).
What are the different column orders in Greek architecture?
Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian.
What is the Acropolis?
A high city in Athens, home to the Parthenon and other important buildings.
What is the Agora?
A central public space in ancient Greek cities used for assemblies and markets.
Who was Polykleitos?
A Classical Greek sculptor known for his treatise on proportions and his statue 'Doryphoros.'
Who was Praxiteles?
A Greek sculptor known for his work in the Late Classical period, including the 'Aphrodite of Knidos.'
What is a Kore?
An Archaic Greek statue of a young woman.
What is a Kouros?
An Archaic Greek statue of a young man.
What are some common features of Greek pottery?
Black-figure and red-figure techniques, with scenes depicting mythology, daily life, and athletics.
What are the differences between Greek and Etruscan sculpture?
Etruscan sculptures are more dynamic and naturalistic, often depicting lively scenes and gestures.
What is a necropolis?
A large, ancient cemetery with elaborate tomb structures.
What are some features of Etruscan temples?
They often have deep porches, widely spaced columns, and are made of wood and mudbrick.
How did the Etruscans depict their gods?
In human form, often with elaborate clothing and accessories.
What materials were commonly used in Etruscan art?
Terracotta, bronze, and gold.
What is the significance of the Tomb of the Leopards?
An Etruscan tomb known for its vibrant frescoes depicting banqueting scenes.
What are some common motifs in Etruscan art?
Animals, mythological scenes, and daily life activities.
Who was Tarquin the Proud?
The last king of Rome, who was of Etruscan descent.
What is the significance of the Chimera of Arezzo?
A bronze statue representing a mythical creature, showcasing Etruscan metalworking skills.
How did Etruscan art influence Roman art?
Through the use of arches, vaults, and realistic portraiture.
What is verism?
A style in Roman art characterized by the realistic depiction of subjects, often showing their age and imperfections.
What is the Tetrarchy?
The division of the Roman Empire into four parts, each ruled by a different emperor.
Why was bronze important in Roman art?
It was used for making durable and detailed sculptures.
What are the parts of a Roman house?
The atrium, peristyle, and triclinium, among others.
What is the Pantheon?
A temple in Rome dedicated to all the gods, known for its large dome.
What is the Colosseum?
A large amphitheater in Rome used for public spectacles and gladiatorial games.
What is the Ara Pacis?
An altar dedicated to Pax, the Roman goddess of peace.
What are the differences between the Early, High, and Late Empire in Roman art?
Early Empire art is idealized and classical, High Empire art is grand and elaborate, Late Empire art shows more abstraction and expression.
Who was Augustus?
The first Roman emperor, who established the Pax Romana.
Who was Constantine?
The first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, known for founding Constantinople.
How did Christians repurpose pagan themes?
By adapting pagan imagery and symbols to Christian contexts and meanings.
What is prefiguration?
The representation of Old Testament events as foreshadowing New Testament events.
Who was Galla Placidia?
The daughter of Roman Emperor Theodosius I, known for her well-preserved mausoleum in Ravenna.
What was Old St. Peter’s Basilica?
A large church in Rome built by Emperor Constantine, considered one of the first great Christian basilicas.
What are orant figures?
Figures depicted in a posture of prayer, commonly found in early Christian art.
How is Jesus typically depicted in early Christian art?
As the Good Shepherd, a young and beardless man, or as a teacher.
What is a catacomb?
An underground burial place used by early Christians, often decorated with religious frescoes.
What is the significance of the Chi-Rho symbol?
An early Christian symbol representing the first two letters of Christ in Greek, often used in late antiquity art.
What is the significance of the Dura-Europos church?
One of the earliest known Christian house churches, with preserved wall paintings.
What are some common themes in late antiquity art?
Biblical stories, Christian symbols, and depictions of Christ and the saints.
What is a minaret?
A tall, slender tower typically part of a mosque, used for the call to prayer.
What is a mihrab?
A niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the direction of Mecca.
What is a hypostyle hall?
A large hall with a roof supported by columns, commonly found in mosques.
What are arabesques?
Intricate, flowing patterns often used in Islamic art, typically featuring floral and geometric designs.
What is calligraphy in Islamic art?
The artistic practice of handwriting, highly valued in Islamic culture for its connection to the Quran.
What is the Dome of the Rock?
An Islamic shrine in Jerusalem, notable for its large gold dome and intricate mosaics.
What is the Great Mosque of Córdoba?
A historic mosque in Spain, famous for its forest of columns and horseshoe arches.
What is the Mosque of Selim II?
An Ottoman mosque in Edirne, Turkey, known for its grand dome and architectural innovation.
What is the Kaaba?
The most sacred site in Islam, located in the center of the Grand Mosque in Mecca.
What is the Taj Mahal?
A famous mausoleum in India, built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
What are some key beliefs and practices in Hinduism?
Belief in karma, dharma, and the cycle of rebirth (samsara), and practices such as yoga, meditation, and puja (worship).
What are some common temple design motifs in Hinduism?
Intricate carvings, symbolic statues, and towering spires (shikharas).
What is the symbolism of sculptural decoration in Hindu temples?
Representations of gods, goddesses, and mythological scenes to convey religious stories and principles.
What is the Lakshmana Temple?
A Hindu temple in Khajuraho, India, known for its detailed erotic sculptures.
What is Angkor Wat?
A massive temple complex in Cambodia, originally dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu.
What is the significance of the Ganges River in Hinduism?
Considered sacred, it is believed to purify sins and is a major site for pilgrimage and rituals.
Who is Shiva?
One of the principal deities in Hinduism, known as the destroyer and transformer.
What is a mandapa?
A pillared hall or pavilion in a Hindu temple.
What is the purpose of a garbhagriha?
The innermost sanctuary of a Hindu temple where the primary deity's idol is housed.
What is the significance of the festival of Diwali?
The Hindu festival of lights, celebrating the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.
What are some key beliefs and practices in Buddhism?
The Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, meditation, and the pursuit of enlightenment.
Who is the Buddha?
Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, who attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.
What is samsara in Buddhism?
The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth that beings are trapped in until they achieve enlightenment.
What is a mandala?
A symbolic diagram used in meditation and ritual, representing the universe.
Who are bodhisattvas?
Enlightened beings who delay their own nirvana to help others achieve enlightenment.
What is the significance of the Sanchi Stupa?
An important Buddhist monument in India, representing the burial mound of the Buddha's relics.
What are the Longmen Caves?
A series of Chinese caves containing thousands of Buddhist statues and inscriptions.
What happened to the Bamiyan Buddhas?
Two giant statues of the Buddha in Afghanistan, destroyed by the Taliban in 2001.
What is the Jokhang Temple?
A sacred Buddhist temple in Lhasa, Tibet, considered the most important and holiest temple in Tibet.
What is the significance of the lotus flower in Buddhism?
It symbolizes purity, enlightenment, and rebirth.
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