1st semester: Midterm Flashcards
Votive (figures)
A gift of gratitude to a deity
Hieratic scale
An artistic technique in which the importance of figures is indicated by size, so that the most important figure is depicted as the largest.
Pictograph
a pictorial symbol for a word or phrase
Cella
Center chamber of Greek temple that holds cult statue
Stele
A carved stone slab used to mark graves or to commemorate historical events used in Mesopotamian society
Ka
central to ancient Egyptian belief; can be described as a “life force” or “spirit” in our terms; something that exists beyond the physical body but is at the same time of it. Accommodating the ka after death is important, thus, the need for likenesses (in various forms) of physical bodies
Composite view
Representation in which part of the figure is shown in profile and another part of same figure is shown frontally.
Corbeled vaulting
An arch formed by the piling of stone blocks in horizontal courses, cantilevered inward until the blocks meet at a keystone (NOT true arch)
Post and lintel construction
A construct with a crossbeam placed across the top of two uprights. Used in Neolithic times.
Engaged Column
A flat, rectangular column projecting from a wall which it forms a part. Has a base and capital, and is often fluted.
Dome
Hemispherical vault; beehive shaped in Mycenaean architecture.
Fresco
A technique of painting on walls covered with moist plaster. Used in Minoan and Mycenaean palaces and Roman villas. Either dry or wet latter is mixed with water and bound to moist lime plaster.
Carytid
female figures acting as columns
Phidian Drapery
Clothing intended to show the form underneath
Kore
the name given to a type of free-standingancient Greek sculptureof theArchaic perioddepicting female figures, always of a young age. (Kouroi male figure)
Contrapposto
A style of Greek sculpture where people are depicted standing and leaning so that the person’s weight is being put on one side. People are depicted with their bodies curved like an “S”
Naturalistic
human form render well
Veristic
an interest in the faithful reproduction of the immediate visual and tactical appearance of subjects; harsh or severe realism.
Mosaic
Patterns or pictures made by embedding tesserae (small pieces) of stone/glass onto walls and floors. Used to tell stories of worship in Christian art.
Sarcophagus
A coffin made of stone; decorated with paintings. Used in Egypt and Rome
Arch
A curved structural member that spans and opening and is generally composed of wedge-shaped blocks that transmit the downward pressure laterally
triumphal arch
A large monument in the shape of an arch that celebrates a leader or a military victory
Barrel vault
The simplest form of vault consisting of an unbroken series of arches; it forms a tunnel like shape
Groin vault
Formed at the point at which 2 barrel vaults intersect at right angles; 4 pathways created
