Chap 1-2 Questions Flashcards
Define ‘prehistoric’
All human existence before emergence of writing
Where are the oldest cave paintings?
Chaveut cave (France)
Principal sites where cave paintings were found (4)
Chauvet cave, pech-Merle, Lascany, Altamira (Spain)
Discuss changes from paleo to Neolithic
Organized system of agriculture, kept herds and animals, permanent settlements
What is a theory about cave paintings?
Human nature to decorate themselves and surroundings
What could early figurines of women mean?
Health, fertility, strong children > survival of clan
Techniques used in cave paintings?
Positive/negative imaging using hand (blowpipe)
Chewing charcoal
Scratching figures
Describe and explain Significance of lion-human
Human with lion head
Instead of copying, the carver made something out of imagination
Shows highly complex thinking and creative imagination
Describe woman from willendorf
Round form
Exaggerated female attributes
May express health and fertility, which guarantee strong children to continue the clan
Describe woman from Ostrava petrkovice
Youthful, athletic figure in animated pose, as if walking
Describe woman from brassempouy
Carver captured essence of head through memory image
Abstract, very general
3 possible reasons for cave paintings
Might be products of totemistic rites to strengthen clan bonds and increase ceremonies to enhance fertility of livestock
Sympathetic magic, but disproved because animals uses for food were not drawn
Places of worship and initiation rites
Describe lamassu
Human headed winged lion sculpture viewed from side and front
Describe the great lyre with bully’s head
Lapis lazuli beard
Lapis lazuli is sign of widespread trade
Long hair/beard means semi divine status
Lyres used for funeral rites
Describe stele of naram-sin
Celebrates one of naram-sin’s victories over people of zagros mountains
Describe head of a man (Akkadian ruler)
Shows generalized male ideal
Beard indicates royalty
Deliberate damage was to symbolically mutilated to destroy its power
Describe assurbanipal and his queen in the garden
Scene of relaxation. Victory celebration
Weapons are on table
Severed head hangs from tree
How to do double side coining
Punch and anvil, each held a mold.
But the metal and hit with a hammer
Lost wax casting
Core is image in wax. Mold is formed over it. Wax is melted and replaced with metal.
Mold is broken away and tada
What was the first village found?
Skara-brae
Pattern art in pottery?
Cross hatching
Samban
Sumer, akkad, neo Sumer, Babylonia, Assyria, neo Babylonia
In between what powers were the hotties at power?
Babylonia and assyrian
What were the first four civilizations?
Nile, Mesopotamia, yellow river, india
What was the Signifigance of rivers?
River makes agriculture possible, and therefore life
Signifigance of Jericho?
First city state and had mud brick walls
Signifigance of Chatal huyuk?
Second city state. Connected houses and walked on roofs
Signifigance of ain ghazal?
First human figure found
Where was the first human figure found?
Ain ghazal
Why did lapis lazuli need patrons?
Expensive
Describe statue of gudea?
River symbolizes tigris and Euphrates
He only rules lagash
What is the only remainder of hittites?
Lion gate
Origin of Sumerians?
First to develop Mesopotamia
Migrated from north
Filled city states with new
What were the firs written documents about?
Business records, Hammurabi etc
Purpose and appearance of ziggurat?
Proclaimed wealth prestige and stability of city’s ruler and god
Symbolizes lofty bridge between heaven and earth
State of gudea inscriptions?
Dedicated himself, state, and temple to goddess Geshtianna, divine poet and interpreter of dream
Shamash?
God of sun ad justice
Themes in Persepolis sculptures?
Extent of empire
Economic prosperity
Allegiance
Animal combats (ferocity of leaders)
Ishtar gate
In front of Babylon
Glazed bricks
Imperial complex at Persepolis describe
Elegant drawing, balanced composition, sleek modeling
Knowledge of Greek art
Raised platform and rectangular grid (Assyrian)
