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Quiz 1
Prehistoric Art-Early Eastern Art
23
Art History
Undergraduate 1
09/20/2011

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Cards

Term
schist
Definition
dark stone typically used for portraits of Egyptian royalty
Term
hieroglyph
Definition
ancient egyptian writing system based on pictures. word comes from the combination of the greek words for holy (hiero) and writing (glyph)
Term
axial symmetry
Definition
symmetry set around a central axis. ex. Mentuhotep's tomb, Temple of Hatshepsut
Term
pylon
Definition
gateways built as monuments to individual kings. sometimes dismantled as building proceeded over the years. each pylon marks entry of a new sacred level
Term
oblisque
Definition
tall stone markers topped by pyramid shaped points (ex. Eiffel tower, Washington Monument)
Term
mastaba
Definition
a rectangular mud-brick or stone edifice marking an early elite or royal burial. Arabic word for bench. Inside the pyramids blocking off the tomb if the king
Term
Imhotep
Definition
3rd Dynasty. architect of the Pyramid of Djzoser. considered one of the greatest architects of all time. elevated to near-divine status after death
Term
Khufu
Definition
2600 BCE. First and largest of the pyramids of Giza. 500 ft tall. set on plateau overlooking Nile Valley. Mediator between land of living and dead. Airshafts--relationship to important constellations.
Term
Akhenaten
Definition

 1340 BCE

  • Caricaturized, cartoonish, androgynous spindly features, rounded stomach and hips, elongated face. 
  • Pictured as a pharaoh (beard, tools, kilt, headdress)
  • Non traditional new ways of representing body
  • New look to relate himself to the sun disk god, Aten – religious revolution
  • Has important political and social ramifications.  Revolutionary imagery embodies that
Term
King Tutankhamen
Definition

1330 BCE

  • maintains stylistic affects of Akhenaten. Spindly proportions, stomach swollen, narrow hip and waist

  • despite his brief rule, the finery in his tomb was incredibly detailed and wellmade, just reminds us how amazing more important tombs must have been 
Term
Mesopotamia 
Definition

-area between the two rivers (Tigris and Euphrates)
-very fertile area--first permanent settlements
-very open to attacks from enemy civilizations

-Sumer civilization 

Term
cuneiform
Definition
  • system of writing consisting of pictograms pressed into clay with a stylus. 2900 BCE
  • latin for "wedgeshaped writing"
Term
ziggurat
Definition

 

  • squat stepped pyramids
  •  may have been links to heavens
  • 40-50 ft high...functioned as holy mountains



     

     

     

 

 

Term
Hammurabi
Definition

ruler of Babylon

creator of first law code

see later card for more info :)

Term
[image]
Definition

Narmer Palate – 3150 BCE Ancient Egypt, Old Kingdom

  • Pragmatic Scale
  • Registers tell a narrative
  • story told from bottom up
  • mix of perspectives (frontal and aerial views)
  • functional object
  • Pharaoh’s power is represented by animals (bull, falcon)
  • Representation of unification of upper and lower Egypt – Headdresses, falcon standing on papyrus flowers
Term
[image]
Definition

Djoser Complex 2680 BCE Ancient Egypt, Saqqara. Old Kingdom 3rd dynasty

  • Staircase to the heavens designed by Imohtep
  • Mastaba – low bench shaped tombs with sloping sides
  • Has 5 step pyramid inside
  • No inside – tomb chamber is underground under mastaba
  • Outside buildings (sham palaces) were there for Pharaoh to please his Ka. Also used for festivities to praise him and to please him in order to bring agricultural success and wealth
Term

Wall at Djoser Complex

Definition
  • Flower at top of columns
  • Held together by own weight
  • carved into stone....not attached to wall but rather part of it
Term
[image]
Definition

3 pyramids at Giza, 4th dynasty, 2600 BCE

  • Khufu (2600), Khafra (2570), Menkaure (2530)
  • Old Kingdom
  • Pyramids are aligned to cardinal points
  • Point skyward to show connection to the heavens
  • Airshafts align to visual links on certain days of year to important celestial bodies
  • Imposes over landscape – control = power
Term
[image]
Definition

Great Sphinx – Khafra 26th century BCE, 4th dynasty

  • Pharaoh – lion element and magnitude are a tribute to him
Term
[image]
Definition

Portrait of Khafra, 2570 BCE

  • Ka statue
  • Stiff and rigid pose
  • Integrity of block is intact – solidity – visual metaphor of pharaonic rule
  • Traditional clothing – kilt, headdress,  beard
  • Ideal image – smooth, ageless, eternal
    • Horus (“brother”) perched on shoulders
    • Lion throne and decoration on sides – upper lower Egypt plants
Term
[image]
Definition

Rahotep and Nofret 2580 BCE

  • similar rigidity of Khafra statue – shows elite status (imitation of Pharaoh)
  • not as well constructed
  • social issues reflected in the construction (man is darker than woman)
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