Art History 101 Exam 1 Terms Questions and
Answers (100% Correct Answers)
Conventions
Ans: methods or styles of portraying something that are widely used and recognized
during a certain time
Stylization
Ans: designing or conforming to a certain convention
Relief sculpture
Ans: as seen with: Assurnasirpal II Killing Lions (Assyria), Lapith Fighting Centaur,
Palette of Narmer, Stele of Naram Sin; gives effect that figures project from
background
Sculpture in the round
Ans: as seen with Khafre, Anarysos Kouros; figure presented in 3D form and are not
attached to a flat background, as with relief
Arch
Ans: as with Arch of Constantine, Colosseum; perfected by Romans as a method to
evenly distribute weight as a lot of weight was carried by little material
Hieratic Scale
Ans: Stele of Naram Sin, Palette of Narmer; those figures of highest importance are
larger
Cuneiform
Ans: one of the earliest known writing systems; Stele of Naram Sin of Akkad period
has this--used to reinforce the story
Stele
Ans: flat slab used for ceremonial purposes that often became narrower at the top;
Stele of Naram Sin
Lamassu
Ans: Assyrian protective deity, often with bull/lion's body and animal head; such as
with interior reconstruction of room from palace of Assurnasirpal II, w/ Human
Headed Winged-Lions (multiple legs--military regime that wanted to show no
weakness and wanted extra everything); conventions to create grandness and
strength
Sumerian
Ans: First period of Ancient Near East; credited with many firsts such as the first
organized religion, first writing system (cuneiform); had ziggurats used for worship
that housed votive figures
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Akkadian
Ans: Second period of Ancient Near East; took over Sumer because the cities were
disorganized; all about hierarchy (as seen with Stele of Naram Sin)
Ziggurat
Ans: massive structure used for worshiping in Ancient Near East developed during
Sumer period; protrude directly from ground and have the form of a terraced step
pyramid; considered to be dwelling places for gods--not places of worship; each city
had their own patron god
Votive figure
Ans: as with Sumer; placed within ziggurats to be placeholders for individuals as
they waited for the gods; depicted in the likeness of everyday people but still stuck
to conventions that corresponded with the particular artist/maker
Assyrian
Ans: Third period of ancient near East; war-like peoples who saw it as a way to
maintain consistency and tradition; violence needed to achieve order; military
minded; power and order through continuity; seen in Assurnasirpal II Killing Lions,
from palace at Nimrud
Necropolis
Ans: "city of the dead;" Stepped Pyramid and sham buildings, funerary complex of
Djoser was part of this; contained elaborate tomb monuments designed for ceremony
that enhanced deliberate, slow reverance for the dead; Pyramids of Giza and their
mastabas
Mastaba
Ans: early Egyptian tombs meant to contain you forever; Arabic word for "bench"
Pyramid
Ans: structure designed as a tomb for pharaohs or people of importance; developed
from stepped pyramids which developed from mastaba tombs; Found at Giza
Mummification
Ans: process of wrapping body to preserve it for eternity within a tomb so as to
house the "ka" or spirit of the person who has died; relates to Egyptian notion of
eternity and the duality of life and death
Palette
Ans: used functionally as a tool for keeping ink/makeup to place on face to deflect
sunlight for Egyptians; also had ceremonial/ritual purpose as an item within tombs
such as with Narmer's
Upper Egypt
Ans: separated from Lower Egypt before Middle Kingdom when Narmer united the
two