ARTH 101 Midterm 2 Flashcards
Ruins of the White Temple and Ziggurat
Uruk, Mesopotamia
ca. 3200–3000 BCE
- Ziggurat: massive structure ancient Mesopotamia, terraced compound with levels
- Dedicated to Anu, chief deity of the Sumerians, god of sky
- Ruler believed to be picked by Anu
- Easy to see, power must be visible, seen from far even over defensive walls
Proto-Cuneiform tablet with seal impressions
from Mesopotamia, probably from Uruk (modern Warka in southern Iraq)
Sumerian
ca. 3100–2900 BCE
- Early form of cuneiform writing, pictographs
- Seal rolling cylinder imprints repeating pattern
- Seal shows priest king = divine ruler leading flock, imagery of shepard
The Flood Tablet
found in Kouyunjik (modern-day Iraq)
Neo-Assyrian
7th century BCE
- The Epic of Gilgamesh, storytelling, 11th tablet of story
- Similar to flood in Christianity, book of genesis, but much earlier
Tablet (The Epic of Gilgamesh)
Neo-Assyrian
7th C BCE
- 6th tablet in the Epic of Gilgamesh
- Cuneiform writing
- Unsure if Gilgamesh real person
- Compiled, shared across time, translated = transfer of knowledge
Statue of Gudea
Mesopotamia, probably from Girsu (modern Tello)
Neo-Sumerian
ca. 2090 BCE
- Gudea, ruler of Gedash city state
- Diorite, noble material, durable
- One of many statues, Gudea liked his image, wrote name on statues
- Dedicated himself to rebuilding temples, display piety towards gods
The Standard of Ur
Excavated from the Royal Tomb at Ur
2500 BCE
- Shell, limestone, lapis sourced from trade, built of broken pieces
- War scene on one side, scene of men bringing booty or tribute on other
- Registers, use of hierarchical scale
Bull-Headed Lyre
excavated from the Royal Tomb at Ur
ca. 2450 BCE
- Gold, lapis musical instrument
- Plaque made of shell and bitumen, used in roads today
- Registers, anthropomorphic animals carrying/preparing food, playing music, zoomorphic
- Scorpian man, ruler of the underworld associated with sun cycle, metaphor for cycle of life
- Man being welcomed into underworld
Step Pyramid of Djoser
Saqqara
2630–ca. 2611 BCE
- First appearance of monumental stone architecture in Egypt
- Imhotep = architect, dietized for work
- Above ground signal of underground tomb
Pashupati Seal
found at Mohenjo-Daro
2500–2400 BCE
- Pressed into soft clay, close documents, mark packages of goods
- Therianthropic creature seated on dias
- Dias: low platform for lectern, seats of honour, throne
- Shear number of seals suggests integral to trade system
Dancing Girl
found at Mohenjo-Daro
ca. 2500 BCE
- Stylized limbs, naturalistic face and gesture
- Indus knew about metal alloy, mixed into bronze, casting
- Complex society: had arts such as dance
Torso of a “priest-king”
found at Mohenjo-Daro
2000–1900 BCE
- Parts naturalistic, parts stylized
- If real person argument for naturalistic, if type of sculpture argument for stylized
- Flat back of head where hair piece would have been placed
- Hole drilled in ear for something hanging, necklace
- Encised eyes would have likely had shells or coloured stone
Trefoil pattern: pattern of 3 like a clover, possibly sacred - Not particular person
Jade Votive Axe
Mesoamerica
Olmec
1200-400 BCE
- Votive: small devotional objects, leave them in sacred place, atlar, temple
- Large head, stocky body that narrows into blade shape
- Flared eyebrows = hawk, cleft in head = jaguar skull, flared lip
Olmec Stone Mask (pendent)
Mesoamerica
Olmec
900–400 BCE
- Worn around neck, may of provided wearer with identity of ancestor, rain god
- Flared lip, child-like roundness
- Around mouth glyphs = writings, perceived as form of beauty
Seated Pottery Figure
Mesoamerica
Olmec
1200–400 BCE
- Baby faced figurine, infants recurring theme Olmec art
- Protruding head = beauty standard, would be wrapped to deform head
- “Were-jaguar”: flared lips, head cleft, almond shape eyes
- Belief of race before humans result human female and jaguar male, Olmec rain deity
- Parts made separate then joined together, polished with finish
- Other colours to highlight features, also used in burials, significant powders
Offering #4 – La Venta
Mesoamerica
Olmec
900–400 BCE
- Found in original position Olmec left them
- Procession in front of opposing figure, witnessing figures
- Show Olmec features: baby-like, elongated head, animal features
- Individual features not made in one workshop, bringing together different sets to make scene
