Art of the Ancient Near East — Unit test Answers

The two rivers that run through the Fertile Crescent are the Euphrates and the Tigris. The rivers are the reason that the region is referred to as “fertile”. A fertile region is an area that produces healthy, sustaining vegetation. The negative aspect of the rivers was that flooding was common. Flooding could wipe out an entire years crop.

#1: Menorah - It is a symbol of paradise and the end of exile for the Jewish people. #2: Ram’s Horn - It was considered sacred and used during ceremonial occasions. #3: Citron - It symbolized prosperity and good fortune for harvest.

Picture 1 appears to be a Geometric vase, while Picture 2 is a small Geometric sculpture of a centaur. The vase would be characterized by horizontal bands, repeated patterns, and simplified figures arranged in an organized way. The centaur also shows typical Geometric features because its body is stylized rather than realistic and it is covered with decorative linear designs and spirals. Both works emphasize pattern, symmetry, and abstraction instead of naturalistic detail, which are key traits of Greek Geometric art.

This is called, Spotted Horses and Human Hands. It was made between 25,000 and 24,000 BCE, and was found in Pech-Merle Cave, which is located in Dordogne, France. There is a hand-print as a type of signature created by the artist. The artist created this by chewing-up charcoal in his/her mouth. Then he/she would place a hand on the wall, and blow the chewed-up charcoal over the hand. This would create a negative hand-print on the stone.

- What type of sculpture is this tomb decoration? Ans: It is a relief sculpture. - Why was this type of sculpture common among Egyptian tombs? Ans: Relief sculptures were common because they could be engraved into the walls of the tombs, making them impossible for tomb raiders to steal. - What is the title of the sculpture? Ans: The title of this tomb decoration is Stele of Amenemhat I. - What is the subject matter of the sculpture? Ans: The sculpture shows ordinary people in everyday life. - What was the purpose of tomb decorations? Ans: Tomb decorations were intended to bring joy to the dead for eternity.

The earliest period of human history is called the Stone Age because people primarily made their tools and weapons from stone. The two main periods of the Stone Age are the Paleolithic period (Old Stone Age) and the Neolithic period (New Stone Age).

The picture shows an ancient Egyptian afterlife scene with animal-headed gods standing before a mummified pharaoh. It likely comes from the Book of the Dead, a famous funerary text placed in tombs to guide the dead through the afterlife. This document is important because it reveals Egyptian beliefs about judgment, burial, and what happened after death. In my opinion, it helps us understand ancient Egyptian society because religion shaped their art, politics, and daily life.

These figures are votives, which traditionally hold religious significance and were most likely dedicated to the gods. They are limestone statues. They are an examples of the traditional way Sumerians represented forms, with simplified faces and bodies, and with clothing that emphasized the cylindrical shape and the styles of the time. The bulging eyes indicate the openness they had when approaching a god.

The image shows the funerary mask of Tutankhamun, one of the most famous artifacts from ancient Egypt. It was made of gold and decorated with colored glass and precious materials to represent the young pharaoh as divine and eternal. The discovery of this object was important because it gave historians an extraordinary look at Egyptian burial practices, royal wealth, and craftsmanship. It became one of the best-preserved and most recognizable treasures from the ancient world.

Picture 1: Egyptian Picture 2: Greek Picture 3: Islamic Picture 1 and 2 both show people and animals who are exhibiting respect and honor to the gods of each culture. Picture 3, from the Islamic culture, has no creatures or animals, because they did not believe that was a proper way to honor their god. They employed aniconism instead. There is also bright colors used in Picture 3. The three pictures are all made out of different materials and are different forms of art.

The Persians are best known for their jewelry, coinage, and ornamental weaponry. The delicate designs and intricate details of their jewelry demonstrate high levels of technical and artistic sophistication. Coins were made with miniature low-relief portraits of rulers, so that coins, in addition to their function as economic standards, served as an advertisement for the ruler. Their ornamental weapons showed a high level of sophistication as well as the political need to emphasize power and strength.

This is a statue or sculpture of a human-headed winged lion. It is 10 feet 3.5 inches tall. Its purpose was to let all who passed by know who was in charge. It symbolized the strength of the ruler it defended. The intention was to inspire civic pride and fear.

The interesting point about pottery vessels like these, is why people in Europe did not produce these much earlier. Even though they understood the process of firing the clay as early as 32,000 BCE, it was not until 7000 BCE that they began making vessels using the same technique. Some historians believed that ceramic vessels were not used because of the time, effort, and expense of using them. Ceramic vessels were also much heavier and more fragile than vessels made out of other materials such as wood or fibers.

Answers may vary, but should be similar to the following: • 480-450 BCE: Early Classical - Marked by the defeat of Persians in 480 BCE. • 450-400 BCE: High Classical - Marked by the Pericles and the Golden Age. • 400-323 BCE: Late Classical - Marked by the death of Alexander the Great.