Prehistoric Architecture Quiz

A large flat stone supported by upright stones. Found in England, Ireland, France, the Channel Islands, Italy, and India.

A ring of upright stones, often supporting horizontal slabs. Famous example: Stonehenge.

Burial mounds. They may have been the inspiration for the Pyramids of Egypt and beehive huts found in Wales, Cornwall, Ireland, and other places.

Prehistoric dwellings built on wooden platforms over water, found in Switzerland, Italy, and Ireland.

The plains of the Nile River in Africa.

A sandy desert with a strip of fertile land along the Nile River.

The Nile River was crucial for trade, communication, and agriculture, turning the desert into fertile fields.

The Nile River's waters made the desert fertile, allowing for agriculture and supporting the growth of Egyptian civilization.

The Small Temple, built for Queen Nefertari, was a testament to Ramses II's love for his wife. It marked the second time a ruler dedicated a temple to his wife, and the first time a wife's statue was the same size as the Pharaoh's, reflecting a special honor.

Nefertari's temple, unlike others, was aligned towards the east.

At the entrance of Nefertari's temple are six colossal figures, four of Ramses II and two of Queen Nefertari, along with smaller statues of their children.

The interior of the Small Temple features a large hall supported by pillars carved with the head of Hathor, the goddess of love and motherhood. The hall also showcases scenes of the King and Queen making offerings to other Egyptian gods.

The back wall of the inner room has reliefs showing Nefertari being crowned by Isis and Hathor, emphasizing her divine role and power.

The time period before written records, encompassing human history before the development of writing systems.

Architectural forms that are categorized based on their function and purpose, like train stations, airports, churches, or schools.

A single, upright stone, often referred to as a menhir. These structures are a key characteristic of prehistoric monumental architecture.

A prehistoric megalithic structure that consists of two or more upright stones supporting a horizontal capstone, often forming a small chamber. They are believed to have served various purposes like burial chambers or ceremonial sites.

A circular arrangement of standing stones, often used for ceremonial purposes or astronomical observations. Cromlechs are a significant example of communal effort in prehistoric construction.

A mound of earth or stone, often covering a burial chamber or another significant structure. Tumuli are found in various prehistoric cultures and provide valuable insights into burial rituals and the lives of ancient people.

Structures built on stilts over lakes or bodies of water. These dwellings provided protection from predators and offered a stable platform for fishing and other water-related activities.

The practice of imitating natural forms found in nature, like birds' nests or animal lairs, was a primitive way of designing and building structures. It reflects an early understanding of shelter and protection.

The Bent Pyramid in Egypt is a unique example of a transitional structure between step-sided and smooth-sided pyramids. Its construction involved a change of inclination angle during the building process, possibly to address stability issues.

The Bent Pyramid's design was altered mid-construction, changing the angle of inclination from a steeper angle to a shallower one. This change was likely due to concerns about the structural stability of the pyramid.

The Bent Pyramid has two entrances, one on the north side with a wooden stairway and the other on the west side. Both entrances lead to chambers with corbelled roofs.

The northern entrance of the Bent Pyramid leads to a chamber below ground level, while the western entrance leads to a chamber built within the pyramid itself.

The Bent Pyramid's northern chamber has a hole in the roof leading to a passage connecting it to the western entrance, accessible today via a long ladder.

The western entrance passage of the Bent Pyramid is blocked by two stone blocks that were slid down ramps, unlike the vertical lowering method used in other pyramids.

The Bent Pyramid has fragmentary remains of a pyramid temple located on the east side.

The Bent Pyramid's internal structure is complex and includes multiple chambers, passages, and a hole in the roof connecting two chambers.

A large dam built in modern Egypt to control the Nile River's water levels and prevent flooding.

The ancient temples of Abu Simbel, carved into a cliff face in Nubia, were threatened by flooding from the Aswan Dam.

A large-scale international project to relocate the Abu Simbel temples to save them from flooding.

A tall, single stone pillar, square in shape, with a pointed top, often covered in hieroglyphics.

Ancient Egyptian writing system that involved symbols carved into stone.

The four flat sides of an obelisk, where hieroglyphics were carved.

The pointed top of an obelisk, resembling a pyramid.

The Great Temple of Ammon, Karnak, located in Egypt, is a massive temple complex renowned for its grandeur and intricate architecture, spanning over 110m wide and 366m long.

The temple's size, grand layout, and amazing decorations are due to additions made by numerous rulers throughout history, from the 12th Dynasty to the Ptolemaic period.

The Great Temple of Ammon, Karnak had six pylons added over time, a massive court (103m x 84m), a magnificent hypostyle hall, and numerous other halls, courts, and a sanctuary.

The Hypostyle Hall is an awe-inspiring space with 134 columns arranged in 16 rows, creating a forest of columns. It measures 103m by 52m.

The Hypostyle Hall's columns are tall (21m) and wide (3.58m in diameter). Some have papyrus flower capitals, while others have bell-shaped capitals.

The Hypostyle Hall's lighting system uses clerestory windows in the upper parts of the walls to let light in, a design that was later developed further in Gothic architecture.

The walls, columns, and architraves of the Hypostyle Hall are decorated with carvings and inscriptions, showcasing the rich history of the temple.

The Great Temple of Ammon, Karnak has two main axes: one running east-west towards the Nile and another running north-south towards the temple of Mut.