Prehistoric Architecture Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is the term prehistory referencing?

The period before history was written down.

Why was protection from the elements important in the development of architecture?

Because it was essential for the survival and well-being of early humans.

What are three types of primitive dwellings?

Caves or rocks (correct)

Huts (correct)

Houses

Tents (correct)

Which of the following are types of prehistoric remains?

Dolmen Signup and view all the answers

What are monoliths also known as?

Menhirs Signup and view all the answers

What is a Dolmen?

A structure consisting of one large flat stone supported by upright stones. Signup and view all the answers

What are Cromlechs?

Circles of stone, often consisting of upright stones arranged in a circle supporting horizontal slabs. Signup and view all the answers

What are Tumuli?

Burial mounds that are considered to be the prototypes of the Pyramids of Egypt and the beehive huts found elsewhere. Signup and view all the answers

What did Lake Dwellings consist of?

Wooden huts supported on piles. Signup and view all the answers

Prehistoric remains have little or no constructive sequence.

True Signup and view all the answers

Where is Egypt located?

In the plains of the Nile river in Africa. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main geographic feature of Egypt?

A sandy desert with a strip of fertile country along the Nile River. Signup and view all the answers

Why was the Nile River crucial to the development of Egyptian civilization?

It was crucial for trade, communication, and irrigation. Signup and view all the answers

What was the most important god in Egyptian culture?

Ra, the sun god. Signup and view all the answers

What was the social structure in ancient Egypt?

The Pharaoh was at the top, followed by government officials, nobles, priests, soldiers, scribes, merchants, craftsmen, and farmers. Signup and view all the answers

What are the classifications of Egyptian tombs?

Mastaba, Pyramid, and Rock-cut caves. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Mastaba?

A rectangular structure with sides sloping at an angle of 75 degrees. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Mastaba of Thy known for?

It is considered the best specimen of its kind for its detailed reliefs. Signup and view all the answers

Who discovered the Mastaba of Ti?

Mariette Signup and view all the answers

What is a step pyramid?

An architectural structure that uses flat platforms, or steps, receding from the ground up to achieve a completed shape similar to a geometric pyramid. Signup and view all the answers

Who designed the first step pyramid?

Imhotep Signup and view all the answers

Where is the Step Pyramid of Djoser located?

Saqqara necropolis, Egypt. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the Step Pyramid of Djoser?

It was the first known pyramid. Signup and view all the answers

What construction techniques were employed in building the Step Pyramid of Djoser?

Six mastabas of decreasing size built atop each other. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Bent Pyramid believed to represent?

A transitional form between step-sided and smooth-sided pyramids. Signup and view all the answers

What caused the change in the angle of inclination in the Bent Pyramid?

The structure may have started showing signs of instability due to the steepness of the original angle of inclination. Signup and view all the answers

How many entrances does the Bent Pyramid have?

Two Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary purpose of the pyramids?

They were built by the kings as their future tombs. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following are considered the best known examples of pyramids?

The Third Pyramid Signup and view all the answers

What is the area of the Great Pyramid of Cheops?

About 13 acres. Signup and view all the answers

What is the angle of inclination of the Great Pyramid of Cheops?

51 degrees 50 minutes. Signup and view all the answers

What is the original height of the Great Pyramid of Cheops?

482 feet. Signup and view all the answers

Where is the entrance to the Great Pyramid of Cheops located?

On the northern side, 47 feet 6 inches above the base. Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the passage leading into the King's Chamber of the Great Pyramid of Cheops?

Grand Gallery. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of the Clerestory Windows?

To bring light into the structure. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Hypostyle Hall?

A large hall with a roof supported by rows of columns. Signup and view all the answers

What elements are often placed in front of pylons?

Obelisks and large statues of the Pharaoh. Signup and view all the answers

What type of construction techniques were employed in the New Empire tombs?

Rock-cut and structural. Signup and view all the answers

What is unique about the tombs at Beni-Hasan?

They are arranged in a row in the rocks. Signup and view all the answers

What features are present in the Tomb of Khnemhotep?

Two sixteen-sided columns, sometimes considered to be a prototype of the Greek Doric order. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two types of temples?

Mortuary temples and Cult temples. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between Egyptian temples and Greek temples?

Egyptian temples were restricted to the king and priests. Signup and view all the answers

What is the central feature of the Temple of Khons?

A large outer courtyard, which was open to the sky. Signup and view all the answers

What is an important feature of the Temple of Khons’s sanctuary?

It was dark or only imperfectly lighted. Signup and view all the answers

What is unique about the Great Temple of Ammon, Karnak?

Its size, disposition, and magnificence are a result of numerous additions from different rulers. Signup and view all the answers

What is the most awe-inspiring feature of the Great Temple of Ammon, Karnak?

The Hypostyle Hall, with its 134 columns. Signup and view all the answers

What is unique about the Temple of Abu-Simbel?

It was entirely excavated out of the solid rock. Signup and view all the answers

What is unique about the facade of The Temple of Abu-Simbel?

It has four seated colossi of Ramses II, each over 65 feet in height. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the smaller chambers behind the vestibule of The Temple of Abu-Simbel?

They are believed to have been used to store the temple utensils and furniture. Signup and view all the answers

What is the most important chamber in The Temple of Abu-Simbel?

The Sanctuary, which houses an altar and four seated figures of the deities worshipped. Signup and view all the answers

What is the unique feature of The Temple of Abu-Simbel’s design?

The temple’s alignment allows sunlight to illuminate the statues along the back wall on February 22 and October 22. Signup and view all the answers

What is unique about the Temple of Nefertari?

It was the first time that the statues of the wife were carved the same size as the Pharaoh. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of The Temple of Nefertari?

To honor Queen Nefertari. Signup and view all the answers

What was the situation of the ancient Egyptian temples after the construction of the Aswan Dam?

They were threatened by the flooding. Signup and view all the answers

What is unique about the Abu Simbel temples?

They were carved into the face of a cliff. Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of the international donations campaign to save the Abu Simbel temples?

The temples were successfully moved and reconstructed on top of a cliff 200 feet above the original site. Signup and view all the answers

What are obelisks?

Monolithic, tapering stone pillars with a pyramidal summit, often decorated with hieroglyphics. Signup and view all the answers

What is the largest obelisk in existence?

The one in the centre of the Piazza of S. John Lateran. Signup and view all the answers

What were ancient Egyptian houses generally like?

They were rectangular, with one, two, or three stories. Signup and view all the answers

What materials were used in constructing Ancient Egyptian houses?

Mud-brick, wood, and perhaps stone. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Lecture 1: Introduction to Prehistoric Architecture

Prehistoric architecture refers to the period before written history.
Early humans prioritized shelter and protection from the elements.
Early shelters were created using readily available resources like branches, twigs, and mud.
Architectural typology references building types like caves, huts, and tents.

Lecture 1: Types of Prehistoric Structures

Monoliths (menhirs): single upright stones. Examples include those at Carnac and Locmariaker in Brittany.
Dolmens: large flat stones supported by upright stones. Examples located near Maidstone, England, Ireland, etc.
Cromlechs: Stone circles with upright stones supporting horizontal slabs. Stonehenge is a notable example.
Tumuli: Burial mounds, possibly early prototypes of Egyptian pyramids.
Lake Dwellings: Settlements constructed on piers in lakes, offering protection against attackers. Located in Switzerland, Italy, and Ireland.
These structures typically had limited architectural value.

Lecture 2: Introduction to Egyptian Civilization

Egyptian civilization developed along the Nile River in Africa.
The Nile provided fertile land and a vital transportation route.
The arid desert surrounding the Nile provided natural protection.

Lecture 2: Geographical and Geological Conditions

Egypt is characterized by a combination of fertile land along the Nile and vast desert regions.
The Nile River acted as the primary source of water and fertile silt, crucial for agriculture.

Lecture 2: Egyptian Society and Culture

Egyptian society was hierarchical, with a pharaoh at the top.
Key social classes included government officials, priests, soldiers, scribes, merchants, craftsmen, farmers, and slaves.
Religion played a significant role in Egyptian life.
Ra was the most important god, depicted as a bird.

Lecture 2: Egyptian Activities and Daily Life

Brick making was a crucial activity, evident in wall paintings.
Harvesting papyrus was important for various materials.
Transporting stone slabs involved numerous people and labor.

Lecture 2: Periods of Egyptian History

Egyptian history is divided into various periods (e.g., Prehistoric, Ancient Empire, etc.).
Key periods of interest include: Prehistoric Period (23000 BCE–4777 BCE), Ancient Empire (4777 BCE–2821 BCE), Middle Empire (2821 BCE–1738 BCE ), New Empire (1738 BCE–950 BCE), and periods of foreign domination.
These periods show a progression in construction techniques and architectural practices.

Lecture 3: Mastaba Tombs

Mastabas were the earliest tombs of the ancient Egyptians.
They were rectangular structures with sloping sides and flat roofs.
Three types of mastabas existed: mastaba, pyramid, and rock-cut caves.
The King's chamber, containing the sarcophagus, is located towards the interior.
They were decorated with scenes of daily life, and offering tables.

Lecture 3: Examples of Mastaba Tombs

Mastaba of Aha (I Dynasty) in Saqqara
Mastaba of Thy (V Dynasty) in Sakkara

Lecture 4: Architectural Construction Systems

Trabeate: This system uses horizontal beams (lintels) supported by columns or posts.
Arcuate: This system employs arches; wedge-shaped blocks pressing inwards on a keystone.

Lecture 4: Architectural Elements

Clerestory Windows: Tall windows located high on the walls of a building, often illuminating an interior.
Hypostyle Hall: Large hall with rows of supporting columns.

Lecture 4: Pylons

Pylons are monumental gateways to temples, typically composed of two massive sloping towers.
The towers were often decorated with reliefs and statues of pharaohs and deities.
Obelisks, statues, and reliefs were common architectural elements.

Lecture 5: The Temple of Abu Simbel

Abu Simbel is a complex of two temples, dedicated to Ramses II and his wife Nefertari.
The temples were carved out of a solid rock face.
They were designed to align with sunrise and sunset on specific dates to highlight important features.

Lecture 6: Obelisks

Obelisks are tall, four-sided, tapering monuments.
They were placed in pairs at temple entrances.
Often inscribed with hieroglyphics.

Lecture 6: Dwellings

Ancient Egyptian houses were typically one to three stories tall.
They were built using mud-bricks.
The designs are based on surviving paintings.

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Explore the fascinating world of prehistoric architecture through this quiz. Discover the various types of structures early humans created for shelter and protection, from monoliths to lake dwellings. Test your knowledge of these ancient architectural forms and their significance in human history.