Glossary
Aqueducts
Ingenious Roman engineering structures, typically bridge-like conduits, designed to transport water from distant sources to urban centers.
Example:
The Pont du Gard in France is a remarkably preserved Roman aqueduct, showcasing their mastery of arches and water management.
Archaic smile
A distinctive facial expression, characterized by a slight upturn at the corners of the mouth, seen on Greek sculptures from the Archaic period.
Example:
Despite the serious context of a funerary monument, many kouros figures display the enigmatic archaic smile.
City-states
Independent urban centers and their surrounding territories that function as self-governing political units.
Example:
Ancient Mesopotamia was organized into numerous city-states, each with its own ruler and patron deity, like Ur or Uruk.
Concrete
A revolutionary building material developed by the Romans, made from a mixture of aggregate, cement, and water, allowing for strong and versatile construction.
Example:
The Pantheon's massive dome was made possible by the Roman innovation of concrete, allowing for its impressive span and durability.
Contrapposto
An artistic pose in which the human figure stands with most of its weight on one foot, creating a naturalistic shift in the hips and shoulders.
Example:
Polykleitos's Doryphoros (Spear Bearer) is a quintessential example of contrapposto, demonstrating the ideal human form in motion.
Corinthian
The most ornate of the classical Greek architectural orders, featuring slender, fluted columns topped with elaborate capitals decorated with acanthus leaves.
Example:
Though less common in ancient Greece, the Roman Temple of Olympian Zeus prominently features the highly decorative Corinthian order.
Cuneiform
One of the earliest systems of writing, developed by the Sumerians in Mesopotamia, characterized by wedge-shaped marks.
Example:
The Code of Hammurabi, a famous set of laws, was inscribed using cuneiform script on a large basalt stele.
Doric
The oldest and simplest of the three classical Greek architectural orders, characterized by sturdy, fluted columns with plain, cushion-like capitals.
Example:
The Parthenon on the Athenian Acropolis primarily utilizes the Doric order, giving it a sense of robust grandeur.
Fresco
A painting technique in which pigments are mixed with water and applied to wet plaster, allowing the paint to become an integral part of the wall.
Example:
Many vibrant scenes from daily life and mythology were preserved in Pompeii through the fresco technique on villa walls.
Hieroglyphs
A formal writing system used by the ancient Egyptians, combining logographic, syllabic, and alphabetic elements.
Example:
The Rosetta Stone was crucial for deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs, unlocking centuries of ancient texts and art inscriptions.
Ionic
A classical Greek architectural order distinguished by slender, fluted columns with volutes (scroll-like ornaments) on their capitals.
Example:
The Temple of Athena Nike, with its elegant scrolled capitals, is a prime example of the Ionic order.
Kore
An archaic Greek statue of a standing draped female youth, often depicted with an 'archaic smile' and elaborate clothing.
Example:
The Peplos Kore is a well-known example, showcasing the intricate drapery and serene expression typical of Archaic Greek sculpture.
Kouros
An archaic Greek statue of a standing nude male youth, typically used as a grave marker or votive offering.
Example:
The Anavysos Kouros exemplifies the early Archaic style with its stiff pose, frontal orientation, and characteristic 'archaic smile'.
Monotheism
The belief in the existence of only one god.
Example:
During the Amarna Period, Pharaoh Akhenaton briefly introduced monotheism to Egypt, focusing worship solely on the sun disk god Aten.
Mosaics
Artworks created by assembling small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials (tesserae) to form an image or pattern.
Example:
The 'Alexander Mosaic' from the House of the Faun in Pompeii is a stunning example of Roman artistry, depicting a battle scene with incredible detail.
Polytheism
The belief in and worship of multiple gods or deities.
Example:
The ancient Greeks practiced polytheism, dedicating temples and sculptures to a pantheon of gods like Zeus, Hera, and Athena.
Pyramids
Massive stone structures with a square base and four triangular sides meeting at an apex, primarily built as tombs for pharaohs in ancient Egypt.
Example:
The Great Pyramids of Giza stand as monumental testaments to ancient Egyptian engineering and their profound belief in the afterlife.
Stratified society
A social structure where people are organized into distinct hierarchical layers or classes based on wealth, power, or status.
Example:
The art of ancient Egypt often depicted a stratified society, with pharaohs at the top, followed by priests, scribes, and then common laborers.
Veristic
A style of Roman portraiture that emphasizes extreme realism, often depicting subjects with all their imperfections, wrinkles, and age.
Example:
Roman Republican portraits are often veristic, capturing the wisdom and experience of elders through unflinching realism.