All Flashcards
What was the significance of the Amarna Period in Egyptian art?
It saw a shift towards monotheism under Akhenaton, influencing artistic style.
How did the invention of cuneiform impact Mesopotamian society?
It was initially used for record-keeping (taxes) and later for laws and stories, providing valuable context for art historians.
What role did pyramids play in ancient Egyptian culture?
They served as massive tombs for pharaohs, ensuring their prosperity in the afterlife, reflecting the strong emphasis on the afterlife.
How did Etruscan art influence Roman art?
Etruscan art served as a bridge between Greek and Roman art, influencing Roman sculpture and painting techniques.
What engineering innovations are the Romans known for?
Concrete and aqueducts.
What is cuneiform?
The first form of writing, developed in Mesopotamia.
What is a city-state?
An independent city with its own government, common in Mesopotamia and Greece.
Define hieroglyphs.
A writing system used in ancient Egypt, often providing context about artworks.
What is contrapposto?
A weight-shift pose in sculpture, creating a more natural and dynamic stance.
Define veristic sculpture.
Roman sculptures that aim for a high degree of realism, even including wrinkles and imperfections.
What are mosaics?
Art made from small pieces of glass or stone put together to form a picture or pattern, common in Roman art.
Compare Greek idealism and Roman realism in sculpture.
Greek sculptures often idealized the human form, while Roman sculptures, especially veristic portraits, aimed for accurate representation.
Compare and contrast the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian architectural orders.
Doric is the simplest, Ionic has decorative scrolls, and Corinthian is the most ornate with acanthus leaves.
Compare Mesopotamian city-states with Greek city-states.
Both were organized into independent city-states. Greece is known for democracy, military power, and significant contributions to art.
Compare the artistic styles of the Archaic and Classical periods in Greece.
Archaic period saw the emergence of naturalistic forms and the 'archaic smile', while the Classical period mastered realistic human figures and used contrapposto.
Compare Greek and Roman sculptures.
Greek sculptures idealized the human form, while Roman sculptures aimed for accurate representation, including imperfections.