Art History Test 1 Prehistoric Art, The Ancient Near East
Name the element in the house of Skara Brae people that was used as the center of social and domestic life
A central stone hearth
What does the term post and lintel mean
A construction consisting of vertical posts with horizontal (lintel) across the top
What is a Ziggurat
A monumental step platform
Many Gudea statues have been found in Mesopotamia. Who was Gudea
A powerful Sumerian ruler of the city-state of Lagash, modern Telloh, Iraq. Under his rule, art and architecture flourished
What is the Woman/Venus of Willendorf believed to represent
A symbol of fertility. Thevwoman with round shapes exaggerates the female figure.
What does the term megalithic mean
big stone
Name 2 unique features of the Catal Hoyuk settlement in Anatolia, Turkey.
built in furniture. Split level homes.
Identity Dolmen
burial structure
Was the additive or the subtractive sculptural technique used to create the Bison Tuc D'Audoubert
Additive. Bison sculpted in clay
Name the most common material used by mesopetamian architects
Alabaster and limestone and clay
Name the cave where the first prehistoric paintings were discovered.
Altamira Cantabria, Spain
What was the most common subject matter used in cave paintings
Animals, geometric signs, and handprints. Humans
In sculpture, interconnected eyebrows in the shape of a wide V, and large eye's are typical characteristics of what culture
Near eastern, sumerian
Was Jericho an unfortified town
No, this strong fortified city predates the pyramids of Egypt.
Name 2 materials used on the skulls found in Jericho
plaster and sea shells
Name the ancient Egyptian building that is similar to the Ziggurat
Palace of Sargon II
What does the term paleolithic mean?
Paleo - old lithos- stone= old stone
What does the term menhir mean
standing stone.
What happens at the Mjnadra temple during an equinox
sunlight floods the main entrance.
Music was important to the Sumerians. Name an art object which supports this statement.
Standard of Ur. It shows them playing instruments
Identity Menhir
Standing stone
Name a great contribution to civilization by King Hammurabi
written code of law . code of Hammurabi
What were 2 tools used by the prehistoric artist to apply paint on walls
Stone oil lamps and scaffolding
Name 2 materials used in prehistoric sculpture
Stone, Ivory, bone, clay, limestone
Name the assyrian creature that had a winged lion or bull body with human head, that was used to intimidate and humble the visitor to the palace of sargon II
The Lamassu (the Guardian)
Name a reason why few mesopetamian buildings survive today.
The fragility of the construction materials used to build them. No timber or stone where available.
The apadana hall is part of which palace
The palace at Persepolis
Why is assyrian art history well documented
The tombs protected them.
Name six characteristics of near eastern sculpture
Twisted Perspective, large staring eyes with continuous eyebrows, rigid with no movement, hierarchy, figures often grouped in registers, men in skirts
Identity Post and Lintel
Verical posting stones with a horizontal slab on top
Name the two subject matters seen on the opposite sides of the Standard of Ur
War on one side, peace on the other
Did prehistoric people of Skara Brae use furniture in their homes
Yes, made of stones
What 3 architectural terms can you use to describe the features of Stonehenge
Cromlech- configured in a circle. Post and lintel- a horizontal laying on top of verticals. Megalithic-massive stones
Name 5 characteristics found in prehistoric paintings
Handprints,twisted perspective, super positioning, figures (black outlines),naturalism.
Which building from ancient near east was considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world
Hanging Gardens of Babylon
Why are sumerian cemeteries great sources for discovering the art of the period.
In the tombs were countless artifacts, cups of gold, silver, musical instruments, Alabaster bowls, and ornate jewelry. The dead were buried with their important items.
Name the famous gate to the city of Babylon
Ishtar Gate
Why is persian architecture much better preserved in comparison with mesopotamian
It was erected in stone using post and lintel construction, making it durable
Identity The Ziggurat At Ur
...
Which 2 countries currently have the most examples of prehistoric paintings
...
Identity Megalithic
Big massive standing stone
What 3 colors were mostly used in cave paintings
Black, red, yellow
Where did the colors used by the prehistoric artist come from
Black-charcoal Red- manganese dioxide Yellow-ochre
What does the term dolmen mean
Celtic word meaning table. A burial site composed of 2 standing stones, topped with a horizontal slab, then covered by earth to Form a mound.
What are some of the theories for the purpose of cave painting
Ceremonial-to improve hunting and ensure fertility.
Identity Cromlech
Circular configuration or pattern
What materials did the builders of Skara Brae use to build their houses
Flat stones. Stone slabs.
Name the material that the neo-babylonian builders used to decorate the Ishtar Gate
Glazed bricks, the glazes were made of ash and immanakku, a type of sandstone,with crushed minerals added to create various colors