Exam 2 Art Flashcards
What period was the Olmec civilization?
Pre-classic phase. 1200-900 BCE
How did the economy of the Olmec run?
Class based. Exotic art was a status symbol
How did spirtual beliefs play a role in the olmec culture?
Polytheistic- spirits controlled the nature and they believed in totemism
What animal imageries were in the art of the Olmec?
- jaguar
- frog
- bird
What time period were the giant heads of the olmec created?
1000 BCE
What were the importance of the giant heads of the Olmec culture?
Most likely portraits of kings/rulers
When did mesoamerican art of the classical phase flourish?
350-650 AD
Who created Teotihuacan
The aztec
What art was in Teotihuacan
pyramids and temples
wall paintings
stone sculptures
When did the pyramid of the sun begin being built?
100 AD
What was the pyramid of the sun
Royal burial tomb built on top of a cave and spring in belief of it being a channel to the underworld
When did the pyramid of the moon begin being built
150 AD
What was the citadel
religous and political center, home of the Temple of Quetzalcoatl which was a major political center which also had relief figures in it
What was the palace of tepantitla
housing for high class citizens
What art was in the tepantitla
Brigh frescoes, figures of the gods adorned with complex and ornate motifs
Why did the Teotihuacan make pottery?
they were used in burial
Who were the Aztec?
Originated as a nomadic tribe in Northern Mexico; arrived in
Mesoamerica in early 13th century and established their magnificent
Capital city of Tenochtitlan
Are mexica and aztec the same?
yes
When was the late classic period?
14th century
When did the aztecs stop existing?
in 1512 when spanish leader Hernan Cortez overthrew the aztecs and took over Tenochtitlan
How did the town Tenochtitlan come about?
Leader of the nomadic tribe, Montecuzoma had a vision from a god to pack up their entire town and move to the first place they found an eagle perching on a cactus tree & eating a snake.
What are the meanings of the imagery in aztec art?
- eagle represents sun god/warrior
- serpent and frog represents Tlaloc god
What was the sun god in aztec culture?
Provided energy necessary to produce food and plants, in order to feed him they had to make a human sacrifice and use the heart and blood
What was the sun god in aztec culture?
Provided energy necessary to produce food and plants, in order to feed him they had to make a human sacrifice and use the heart and blood
