Ancient Egyptian and Greek Art

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from Ancient Egyptian and Greek art.

Convention

A traditional, standardized way of representing subjects (e.g., profile head, frontal torso).

Pharaoh

King of Egypt, viewed as divine and the earthly embodiment of Horus.

Mastaba

Rectangular brick or stone tomb with sloping sides built over an underground burial chamber.

Stepped Pyramid

Series of mastabas stacked to form an early pyramid (e.g., Djoser’s by Imhotep).

Pyramid

Monumental royal tomb symbolizing the sun’s rays and the pharaoh’s divine ascent.

Ka

The eternal spiritual life force of a person; required preservation of the body.

Ankh

Egyptian hieroglyph symbolizing life.

Idealization

Portraying subjects as flawless or more perfect than in reality.

Naturalism

Representation based on observation of the natural world; lifelike appearance.

Monotheism

Belief in one god (introduced by Akhenaton for Aton).

Amarna Period

Time of Akhenaton’s reign (1353–1335 BCE) marked by religious and artistic revolution.

Ben-ben Stone

Sacred stone linked to the creation myth and symbolized by pyramid shape.

Hieroglyphs

Formal writing system using picture symbols.

Humanism

Belief that human beings are the center and measure of all things; focus on human form and intellect.

Contrapposto

A natural stance where weight rests on one leg, creating a relaxed "S-curve."

Canon of Proportions

Mathematical ratio system defining ideal human body proportions (Polykleitos’ rule: head = 1/7 height).

Archaic Smile

Slight smile used to give life and motion to statues of the Archaic period.

Kouros / Kouroi

Nude male youth statues symbolizing ideal beauty and athleticism.

Kore / Korai

Clothed female figures, often votive offerings.

Doric Order

Simplest architectural order; fluted columns without bases, plain cushion-like capital.

Ionic Order

More decorative order; columns have bases and volute (scroll) capitals.

Pediment

Triangular gable at the end of a roof, often filled with sculpture.

Frieze

Horizontal band above the columns, often sculpted or painted.

Metope

Square panel between triglyphs in a Doric frieze, sometimes sculpted in high relief.

Bronze

Preferred Greek material for sculpture; most surviving marble copies are Roman reproductions.

Chryselephantine

Sculpture made of gold and ivory (used for Phidias’ Athena).

Hellenistic

Period of expressive, dramatic art following Alexander the Great’s conquests.