Prehistoric Cave Art

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Questions and Answers

What is the dominant subject matter in cave art?

Human figures

Abstract patterns

Landscapes

Animals (correct)

What is the name of the famous cave art site that features the earliest form of narrative storytelling?

Lascaux (correct)

Cave of El Castillo

Altamira

Chauvet

What is the significance of pregnant animals in Paleolithic artwork?

They represent reproduction and the strive to survive (correct)

They symbolize power and strength

They represent good luck

They are a symbol of wealth

What is the name of the type of monument that Stonehenge is an example of?

Complex megalithic monument Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the temple structure found in Mesopotamia?

Ziggurat Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the grooves on the posts in Stonehenge's construction?

To hold the lintel rocks Signup and view all the answers

What was the Law Code of Hammurabi known for?

Record of decisions and decrees made by Hammurabi Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for megaliths that appear in circles?

Cromlech Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the construction method used to build Stonehenge?

Post and lintel Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of the hybrid creature created by the Assyrians?

To intimidate on-comers Signup and view all the answers

What is Stonehenge associated with?

The summer solstice Signup and view all the answers

What was significant about the Sumerians?

They developed writing, schools, libraries, and written laws Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the dates June 18 to 24 in relation to Stonehenge?

The best dates to see the sun appear over heelstone Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of art in Mesopotamia?

To communicate through visual narratives Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the scale used in Mesopotamian art?

Hieratic scale Signup and view all the answers

What type of relief is the sculpture 'Assurnasirpal Killing Lions' in?

Low relief Signup and view all the answers

Who bought Stonehenge for $10,000?

Ser Cecil Chubb Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary goal of the ancient Egyptians in their afterlife beliefs?

To find a home for the Ka or soul in the afterlife Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the pharaoh who united Upper and Lower Egypt?

Menes Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the structure attached to the Great Sphinx?

Khafre Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the period during which Akhenaten ruled?

The Amarna Period Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of Greek culture?

Idealism Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the order that reached its pinnacle of perfection in the Parthenon?

Doric Signup and view all the answers

What type of relief is the sculpture 'Nike Adjusting her Sandal' in?

High relief Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Paleo/Lithic Era

The oldest known cave art is found in Chauvet cave and is characterized by its naturalism.
Cave art often features animals as the dominant subject matter.
Chauvet cave contains the most naturalistic art.
Lascaux is another famous cave with early narrative storytelling, featuring images like Rhinoceros, Wounded Man, and Bison.

The Earliest Art

Tiny carved figures were made in an abstract method, such as the Woman from Willendorf from the Paleolithic period.
The Woman from Willendorf, also known as "Venus", represents Love and Fertility.
Pregnant animals in artwork represented reproduction and the strive to survive and maintain resources.

Neo/Lithic Era

Stonehenge is a complex megalithic monument from the New Stone Age.
Stonehenge functioned to mark the passing of time and is believed to have a ritual function.
Two types of stones were used to build Stonehenge: Sarsen stones (25 tons, 18 feet tall) and Bluestones.
Stonehenge is associated with the Summer Solstice and is related to harvesting and gathering crops.

Megaliths and Cromlechs

Megaliths are huge blocks of stones.
Megaliths that appear in circles are called Cromlechs.
Stonehenge is one of the most famous Cromlechs.
The post and lintel construction method was used to create Stonehenge.
Altar stone is located in the middle of Stonehenge.

Middle East

Areas/societies in Mesopotamia include Sumer, Babylon, Akkad, and Assyria.
Sumerians developed writing, schools, libraries, and written laws, along with the wheel.
Sumerians were very religious and worshiped 3,000 gods.
Art was used to effect and reflect political power, resulting in propaganda.
Mesopotamians used visual narrative through art.
Ziggurat is a pyramidal temple structure consisting of successive platforms with an outside staircase and a shrine at the top.
The Cella is the square temple structure at the very top of the Ziggurat where the cult statue and worshiping statues were found.

Hieratic Scale

Hieratic Scale is a scale based on the relative importance of figures in art.
The biggest image in the display is the most important figure.
Smaller scales represent less power.

Babylon

Hammurabi was the most famous ruler of Babylon.
Hammurabi is best known for his law code.
The Law Code of Hammurabi is a record of decisions and decrees made by Hammurabi over the course of 40 years.

Assyria

Ashurnasirpal was the ruler of Assyria.
Assyrians created Lamassu, a hybrid creature (winged human-headed bulls) to represent power and strength.
Assurnasirpal Killing Lions is depicted in low relief.

Egypt

Egypt is separated into two areas: Upper Egypt (south) and Lower Egypt (north).
The goal of the Egyptians was to find a home for the Ka or soul in the afterlife.
The First Pharaoh of Egypt, Menes (also known as Narmer), united the Lower and Upper parts of Egypt.
The Palette of King Narmer celebrates the victory of Upper Egypt over Lower Egypt.
The Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx were built during the "Age of the Pyramids".

Amarna Period

Akhenaten ruled during the Amarna Period and is considered a Sun God.
During the Amarna Period, Akhenaten briefly changed traditional religious and artistic canons.
Artwork appears to be more naturalistic and informal.

Greek and Roman Culture

Greek culture centered around the idea of perfection (idealism).
Romans were concerned about recording history, "the ideal of realism".
The Doric order reached its pinnacle of perfection in the Parthenon.
The Parthenon is dedicated to Athena.
The Temple of Athena Nike is an Ionic temple (victory) and the smallest structure on the Acropolis.

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Description

This quiz covers the earliest known cave art, including Chauvet and Lascaux, and their naturalistic depictions of animals. It also touches on the development of narrative storytelling and early sculpture techniques.