Art History Terms for Exam 1

Helpful Terms for Exam 1

• Anthropomorphic: Attributing human characteristics to non-human entities, like gods or animals.
• Archaic Smile: A characteristic smile on Archaic Greek statues, symbolizing life and vitality.
• Areté: In ancient Greece, excellence, virtue, and fulfilling one's purpose.
• Athens: A prominent Greek city-state known for democracy, philosophy, and culture.
• Binder (paint): A substance holding pigments together in paint.
• Black Figure Ware Pottery: Greek pottery with black figures on a red background, popular in the Archaic period.
• Canon of Proportions: Mathematical ratios used in art to create balanced and idealized human representations, especially in Greek sculpture.
• Canon (scripture/texts): A collection of authoritative texts recognized as genuine by a religious tradition.
• Capitals: The topmost part of a column, elaborately designed, supporting the architrave.
• Catharsis: Emotional release or purification felt by the audience of a tragedy.
• Cella (Naos): The inner chamber of a temple, housing the deity's statue.
• Comedy: A humorous or satirical form of drama, often ending happily.
• Contrapposto: An artistic pose where weight is shifted, creating a natural S-curve in the body.
• Corbel Arch: An arch constructed by projecting each layer of stone inward.
• Corinthian Architecture and Ware/Pottery: A highly decorative architectural and pottery style with elaborate floral motifs in capitals.
• Covenant: A sacred agreement, particularly in religious contexts.
• Cuneiform: Mesopotamian writing system using a reed stylus on clay tablets.
• Dactylic Hexameter: A meter in epic poetry, consisting of six feet with a long-short-short pattern.
• Decalogue: The Ten Commandments.
• Dialectic: A method of argument where opposing viewpoints are discussed to reach a higher truth.
• Doctrine of Ethos: The belief that art influences character and emotions.
• Doric: A simple, sturdy style of Greek architecture with plain column capitals.
• Dramatic Irony: A situation where the audience knows something the characters don't.
• Dromos: A long, narrow passage, often in tombs or temples.
• Epic Verse/Poetry: Long narrative poetry, often about heroic deeds.
• Exodus (Event and Book): The second book of the Hebrew Bible describing the Israelites' departure from Egypt.
• Frieze: A decorative horizontal band on a building.
• Geometric Pottery: Greek pottery from the Geometric period featuring abstract geometric patterns.
• Hammurabi’s Law Code: Early written laws from Babylonian King Hammurabi.
• Henge: Prehistoric monuments with concentric rings of stones/posts.
• Henotheism: Belief in one god while acknowledging others.
• Hierarchy of Scale (Hieratic Scale): Artistic technique where figure size indicates importance.
• Hieroglyphs: The writing system of ancient Egypt using pictorial symbols.
• High Relief: Sculpture with figures prominently projecting from the background.
• Hypostyle Hall: A large room with a columned roof, typical of Egyptian temples.
• Ionic: Greek architectural style with slender, fluted columns and scroll-like capitals.
• Kore: A Greek sculpture depicting a young woman, often draped in clothing.
• Kouros: A Greek sculpture depicting a young man, typically nude and standing rigidly.
• Krater: A large Greek vessel used for mixing water and wine, often decorated with scenes.
• The Law: The system of rules governing a society.
• Low Relief: Sculpture where figures are minimally raised from the background.
• Lyric Verse/Poetry: Personal and emotional poetry, often accompanied by a lyre.
• Meander: A decorative winding pattern in Greek art.
• Megalith: A large stone used in prehistoric construction.
• Messiah: A savior or liberator expected in Jewish and Christian traditions.
• Metope: A rectangular space in a Doric frieze, often decorated with relief sculpture.
• Monotheism: Belief in one god.
• Neolithic: The later part of the Stone Age, marked by agriculture and settled living.
• Obelisk: A tall, four-sided tapered monument with a pyramidion top.
• Obsidian: Volcanic glass used for tools and weapons.
• Orientalizing Period: A period in Greek art influenced by Eastern art styles.
• Parthenon: The temple of Athena on the Athenian Acropolis.
• Patriarch: The male head of a family or tribe, associated with biblical traditions.
• Pediment: The triangular upper part of a building's front, often decorated with sculpture.
• Pentateuch: The first five books of the Hebrew Bible (Torah).
• Pharaoh: The ruler of ancient Egypt.
• Pigment: A coloring substance, often from natural sources.
• Polis: A city-state in ancient Greece.
• Polytheism: Belief in multiple gods.
• Post and Lintel Structure: A construction method using vertical posts to support horizontal beams.
• The Prophets: Religious figures believed to deliver messages from God.
• Pyramid: A monumental structure, often used as a tomb, in ancient Egypt.
• Red Figure Ware Pottery: Greek pottery with figures in a red color against a black background.
• Registers: Horizontal bands of decoration in art.
• Relief Sculpture: Sculpture projecting from a background surface.
• Relieving Triangle: A triangular space above a lintel, relieving structure weight.
• Semitic: Relating to the Semitic languages and cultures.
• Septuagint: Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible.
• Sparta: A prominent Greek city-state known for its militaristic culture.
• Sphinx: A mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head of a human or other animal.
• Stele: A vertical stone slab, often used for inscriptions or memorials.
• Tholos Tomb: A round-roofed tomb, common in ancient Greece.
• Torah: The first five books of the Hebrew Bible.
• Tragedy: A form of drama with a sorrowful outcome.
• Triglyph: A vertical block with grooves in a Doric frieze.
• Trojan War: A legendary war between the Greeks and Trojans.
• Victory Stele of Naram-Sin: A stele celebrating a victory, showing the king in dominance.
• Votive: Offered or dedicated to a deity.
• The Writings: A section of the Hebrew Bible, including various books.
• Xenia: The ancient Greek custom of hospitality and generosity to strangers.
• Ziggurat: A massive stepped tower in ancient Mesopotamia used in religious ceremonies.