Questions and Answers
What is the oldest figurative art found in Sulawesi, Indonesia?
What does the wall painting in Chauvet Cave depict?
Animals interacting with each other, particularly predatory animals.
The Lion-Human carving from Hohlenstein-Stadel, Germany, is the oldest anthropomorphic animal carving, made from ______.
Mammoth ivory
What does the Woman (Venus) of Willendorf symbolize?
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What were the religious purposes of the White Temple and ziggurat in Uruk?
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What is the significance of the 'Warka Head' from Uruk?
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Who is possibly depicted by the head of an Akkadian ruler from Nineveh?
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The stele of Hammurabi depicts Hammurabi receiving the code of law from the god Shamash.
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What does Ashurbanipal hunting lions relief demonstrate?
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What role did the Palette of King Narmer play?
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What does the statue of Khafre enthroned symbolize?
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What is the significance of the Seated Scribe sculpture?
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What does the relief of Ti watching the hippopotamus hunt illustrate?
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What does the head of Senusret III portray?
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What distinguishes the temple of Amun-Re in Karnak?
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What does Hatshepsut's depiction as pharaoh convey?
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What characterizes the representation of Akhenaton?
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What style is the figurine of a woman from Cyclades representative of?
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What cultural significance does the bull-leaping fresco hold?
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What does the octopus jar from Crete illustrate?
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Study Notes
Ancient Art and Culture
- Wall-painting featuring babirusa and hand-stencils from Sulawesi, Indonesia (c. 40,000 B.C.E) represents the world's oldest figurative art from Sulawesi Culture.
- Chauvet Cave in France (c. 30,000-28,000 BCE) showcases wall paintings of interacting animals such as horses and rhinoceroses, emphasizing predatory dynamics.
Significant Artifacts and Sculptures
- Lion-Human sculpture from Hohlenstein-Stadel, Germany (c. 40,000 BCE) carved from mammoth ivory is the oldest known anthropomorphic animal carving, believed to have totemic significance.
- The Woman (Venus) of Willendorf (c. 24,000 BCE) is a limestone figurine symbolizing fertility with exaggerated features and no facial detailing.
Architectural Marvels
- Stonehenge in England (c. 2550-1600 BCE) is a prehistoric monument known for its enigmatic stone circle.
- The White Temple and ziggurat in Uruk, Iraq (c. 3,300-3,000 BCE) served religious functions and represented the highest architectural achievement in Sumerian culture.
Notable Mesopotamian Works
- The Warka Head from Uruk (c. 3300-3000 BCE) is one of the earliest representations of a human face, reflecting Sumerian artistry with religious connotations.
- The Head of an Akkadian ruler, possibly Sargon of Akkad (c. 2250-2200 BCE), demonstrates the unification of Sumer and other kingdoms, crafted from copper.
Historical Art and Law
- Hammurabi and Shamash relief depicts King Hammurabi receiving the code of law from Shamash, dated around 1780 BCE in Susa, Iran; a significant Babylonian artifact.
- Ashurbanipal hunting lions relief (c. 645-640 BCE) portrays the power of Assyrian kings through recreational lion hunting.
Egyptian Art and Iconography
- Palette of King Narmer commemorates the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt (c. 3000-2920 BCE), indicating early use of hieroglyphics.
- Khafre enthroned (c. 2520-2494 BCE) exemplifies pharaonic idealism with symbols like the fake beard and royal linen in diorite.
Depictions of Society and Leadership
- Seated Scribe from Saqqara (c. 2450-2325 BCE) reflects Egyptian naturalism and portrays an ordinary person.
- Ti observing a hippopotamus hunt relief (c. 2450-2350 BCE) illustrates social stratification and the importance of appearance in Egyptian artistry.
Pharaohs and Their Portrayals
- Head of Senusret III (c. 1938-1755 BCE) captures the somber characteristics of a ruler during a tumultuous time, painted in yellow quartzite.
- Hatshepsut enthroned (18th Dynasty) is the first female pharaoh of Egypt, presented in a manner similar to male counterparts, emphasizing gender roles in leadership.
Shift in Artistic Styles
- Akhenaton's representation (c. 1353-1335 BCE) breaks from traditional forms with exaggerated features reflecting a new artistic movement in New Kingdom art.
- Cycladic figurines, such as the woman statue (ca. 2500-2300 BCE), embody the geometric aesthetics typical of Aegean culture.
Aegean and Minoan Art
- Bull-leaping fresco from Knossos, Crete (c. 1450-1400 BCE), demonstrates Minoan tradition, characterized by dynamic poses and detailed representation of movement.
- The Octopus jar (ca. 1500 BCE) is a ceramic piece reflecting Minoan maritime culture through freeform artistic expression.
Architectural Landmarks
- The Lion Gate in Mycenae (c. 1300-1250 BCE) showcases the monumental architecture of the Mycenaean civilization, featuring iconic sculptural elements.
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Test your knowledge with these flashcards on the earliest forms of figurative art from different cultures. Explore significant wall paintings and sculptures, including works from Sulawesi and Chauvet Cave. Enhance your understanding of ancient artistic expressions with these study aids.