art history - exam 1

• The Ziggurat of Ur is located in modern day Iraq, ca. 2100 bce
• The Ziggurat of Ur was commissioned by the king Ur-Nammu for the moon goddess, which raised the holy shrine of the gods and goddesses closer to the heavens. While there was general access to the shrine, the highest places were reserved for only the priestesses and priests.

The votive figures from the Temple of Abu, Eshnunna (Iraq), ca. 2750-2600 bce. They are from the Early Dynastic period. 

The votive figures were held in a cult room and allowed their donors to be in the presence of the divine. In return for the gifts, the donors expected to be protected from harm. The style of the figures is "abstract formalism"

The figures wear skirts with tassels and some have ceremonial sheepskin skirts. They hold libation cups for ritual liquid offerings. They also have large inlaid eyes that show that they are fixed on the deity. 

The figures are made out of gypsum, limestone, alabaster, shell, and lapis lazuli. These statues are not royal because royal statues would have been carved from diorite, a more precious stone.

This is the Royal Standard of Ur, showing the feast side. The other side contains a battle. This piece is from the Early Dynastic period and is made out of wood inlaid with shells, lapis lazuli, red limestone, and bitumen. Lapis lazuli demonstrates long-distance trade, coming from Afghanistan. 

This artifact was discovered in a man's tomb at a royal tomb in Ur. The royal tombs of Ur were dedicated to the moon god Nanna. 

This object depicts a feast and a battlefield victory and uses hierarchical scale to show that the captives are presented to the ruler.

The great lyre of Ur was found in a king's tomb at the Royal Tomb of Ur. It was likely a popular musical instrument for a funeral ceremony. The head is covered in gold but is not solid gold. 

The four narratives below show animals doing human activities such as butchering meat, carrying liquid, and playing music. The scenes likely present funerary rites or the afterlife.

Restored view of the Acropolis, Athens, Greece (John Burge): (1) Parthenon, (2) Propylaia, (3) Pinakotheke, (4) Erechtheion, (5) Temple of Athena Nike

• Iktinos and Kallikrates, Parthenon, Acropolis, Athens, Greece
• The two architects of the Parthenon were Iktinos and Kallikrates, who wanted to embody the democratic ideals of Athens. 

The temple includes a large cella (inner chamber of a temple) and a opisthodomos (back room of an ancient Greek temple).

Three goddesses, thought to be Hestia, Dione, and Aphrodite from the Parthenon east pediment in the Akropolis, Athens. 

The pediments were triangular components of the Parthenon.

• Helios and his horses, and Dionysos (Herakles?) from the east pediment of the Parthenon, Acropolis, Athens, Greece. 438-432 bce. Helios is the personification of the sun.
• These sculptures were not attributed to Polykleitos.

Centauromachy, a metope from the south side of the Parthenon, Acropolis, Athens, Greece, ca. 447-438 bce.

Nike adjusting her sandal, from the south side of the parapet of the Temple of Athena Nike, Acropolis, Athens, Greece, ca. 410 bce

Polykleitos, Doryphoros (Spear Bearer). Roman copy from the palaestra, Pompeii, Italy, of a bronze statue of ca. 450–440 bce.

Zeus (or Poseidon?) from the sea off Cape Artemision, Greece (460-450 bce).

Niobid painter, Artemis and Apollo slaying the children of Niobe (Athenian red-figure calyx krater), from Orvieto, Italy, ca. 450 bce.

Achilles painter, Warrior taking leave of his wife (Athenian white-ground lekythos), from Eretria, Greece, ca. 440 bce.

Kallikrates, Temple of Athena Nike, Acropolis, Athens, Greece, ca. 427–424 bce

Erechtheion, Acropolis, Athens, Greece, ca. 421–405 bc

Caryatids of the south porch of the Erechtheion, Acropolis, Athens, Greece, ca. 421–405 bce. Plaster casts of marble statues

Stairway, Apādana, Persepolis (Fars, Iran), c. 520–465 bce.

Bull capital from Apādana palace, Persepolis, Iran, c. 520–465 bce.

Persians and Medes, detail of the processional frieze on the east side of the terrace of the Apadana palace, Persepolis, Iran, ca. 521–465 bce

An Armenian tribute bearer carrying a metal vessel with Homa (griffin) handles, relief from the eastern stairs of the Apādana in Persepolis (Fars, Iran), c. 520–465 bce.

Gate of Xerxes (Gate of All Countries), ca. 475 bce, Persepolis, Iran

Rhyton in the form of a winged lion, from Hamadan, Iran, fifth to third century bce.

Reconstruction of the sacred center at Chavín de Huántar, Peru, 900–200 bce

Lanzón Stele, Old Temple, Chavín de Huántar, Peru, ca. 900-200 bce

Raimondi Stele, from the main temple, Chavín de Huántar, Peru, ca. 800–200 bce

Pectoral, Chavín de Huántar, c. 900–500 bce

La Venta, reconstruction drawing, c. 900–400 bce, Villahermosa, Mexico

Colossal head, La Venta, Mexico, ca. 900–400 bce

Altar 4, La Venta, Mexico, ca. 900–400 bce.

Offering No. 4, c. 900–400 bce, serpentine, jadeite, and granite, La Venta

Ceremonial ax in the form of a maize god, from La Venta, Mexico, ca. 900–400 bce

North entrance to Knossos complex, Crete, Greece, ca. 1700–1370 bce. This building is commonly known as the palace of Knossos. It seems to have been used as a gate to a ceremonial center.

• Bull-leaping fresco, from the 'palace' of Knossos, Crete, Greece, ca. 1400 bce
• This is also known as a Toreador fresco.

Bull’s head rhyton, from Knossos, c. 1550-1500 bce. This piece was found in a Knossos ceremonial complex, likely a ritual object used as a ceremonial drinking vessel.

• Minoan woman or goddess (La Parisienne), fragment of a fresco from Knossos, Crete, Greece, ca. 1350 bce
• The woman is carrying a "sacred knot," tied to the back of her dress. This piece is part of a larger fresco from a Knossos ceremonial complex.

Snake Goddess, from Knossos, Crete, Greece, ca. 1600 bce. This piece likely depicts a goddess or a priestess. This is a faience figurine. This piece was found in an area of the Knossos complex associated with ritual. Lastly, this piece features a West Asian dress.

Marine Style octopus flask from Palaikastro, Crete, Greece, c. 1500–1450 bce. This is a Minoan stirrup jar.

• Lion Gate, Mycenae, Greece, ca. 1300–1250 bce. This is the main entrance to the Mycenae citadel.
• It features a post-and-lintel system of construction, a corbeled arch, and a relieving triangle carved with a Minoan-style column and monumental creatures.

Exterior of the Treasury of Atreus, Mycenae, Greece, ca. 1300–1250 bce

Interior of the Treasury of Atreus Mycenae, Greece, ca. 1300–1250 bce. This is a round building with walls that gradually taper inwards and are affixed by a central keystone. This is also a tholos tomb.

Funerary mask, from Grave Circle A Mycenae, Greece, ca. 1550–1500 bce. Beaten gold, 10 1/4′ high.

Inlaid dagger blade with lion hunt, from Grave Circle A , Mycenae, Greece, ca. 1600–1500 bce. This blade is elaborately decorated with inlaid gold, silver, and niello. It features men involved in a lion hunt.

Warrior Vase (krater), from Mycenae, Greece, ca. 1300 bce. This vase depicts Mycenaean warriors.

This is a section of a Mycenaean citadel and the Grave Circle A in Mycenae. At this site, tombs and elaborate offerings, evidence of funerary rituals such as feasting, and gold death masks capturing distinctive facial features were found.

Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure, ca. 2589-2503 bce, Giza, Egypt. These are also known as Pyramids of Cheops, Chefren, and Mykerinos.

The Egyptians believed that every ruler was Horus while he lived and Osiris after he died and that's why it was their duty to help the ruler with his transformation.

Great Pyramid of Khufu, ca. 2589–2566 bce, Giza

Great Sphinx, Giza, Egypt, ca. 2558–2532 bce. Sandstone, 65' high

This monument is located in the necropolis in Giza. Made of sandstone, this monument is believed to be a portrait of the Egyptian ruler Khafre

Khafre enthroned, from Giza, Egypt, ca. 2558–2532 bce. Anorthosite gneiss, height 5 ft. 6⅛ in.

Menkaure and Khamerernebty(?), from Giza, Egypt, ca. 2532–2503 bce. Graywacke, 4' 6 1/2"

This piece was originally painted, created using a fixed set of proportions, and carved out of graywacke using a grid block technique.

Seated scribe, from Saqqara, Egypt, ca. 2494–2345 bce. Painted limestone, 1' 9" high

Old Kingdom, located in the tomb of a high ranking professional.

Akhenaten and Nefertiti with their three daughters, from Amarna, Egypt, ca. 1352–1336 bce. Limestone, 1' 1"

This piece was made during the Amarna period. The sun is the god Aten, emanating through the rays.

Thutmose, Bust of Nefertiti, from Amarna, Egypt, ca. 1352–1336 bce. Painted limestone, 1' 8" high

She was the wife of Akhenaten and wears traditional symbols of rulership. This piece was created in Thutmose's workshop during the Amarna period.

Colossal statue of Akhenaten from the temple of Aten, Karnak, Egypt, ca. 1353–1335 bce. Sandstone, 13' high

The unusual depiction of an Egyptian ruler in this sculpture seems to indicate that Akhenaten wanted to be presented as the human version of the androgynous creator Aten

Death mask of Tutankhamun, inside the innermost coffin in his tomb at Thebes, Egypt, ca. 1323 bce. Gold with inlay of semiprecious stones, 1' 9 1 4" high

From the New Kingdom

Tutankhamun's Painted Chest, Thebes, Egypt, ca. 1336–1327 bce. Wood inlaid with ivory, 1' 8" long

Luxor Temple Complex, Egypt, 1279–1212 bce

The complex has colonnades and a hypostyle hall, pylons, obelisks, and sphinx sculptures, and colossal statues of Ramesses II.

• Monumental pylon of Ramesses II 
• Obelisk
• Colossal statues of Ramesses II

Temple of Amun

Seated statue of Gudea, ruler of Lagash (modern Tello, Iraq), c. 2120 bce.

The statue is created in diorite, which indicates Gudea's control of the stone's sources. This statue is first and foremost a religious and ritual object.

Stele with the laws of Hammurabi (Hammurabi's stele), set up at Babylon, Iraq, found at Susa, Iran, ca. 1780 bce. During this era, rulers asked for the god's approval to assert the right to rule. The law stele of Hammurabi is one of the oldest surviving legal records. In this, the god of justice, Shamash, is depicted giving Hummurabi a rod and ring, the insignia of royal power.

Ishtar Gate (restored), Babylon, Iraq, ca. 575 bce. Vorderasiatisches Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Berlin.

Neo-Babylonian period/Nebuchadnezzar II's reign. The gate was constructed as a ceremonial entrance to Babylon. It plays an important role in the Babylonian festival akitu.