AP Art History Review: Unit 2

Ancient Mediterranean (3500 B.C.E - 300 C.E.)

• Covers civilizations: Ancient Rome, Greece, Egypt, Estruscan, and parts of the Middle East (Mesopotamia).

Civilization Overviews

• Estruscan: Ancient Etruria, Italy. Influenced by Romans.
• Roman: Controlled the Mediterranean, Northern Africa, and west Asia.
• Egyptian: Located along the Nile River in Northern Africa.
• Greek: Similarities with Roman civilization.
• Middle Eastern: Often controlled by Romans, sharing influences.

Characteristics of Art in Each Civilization

• Egyptian Art
  • Stiff postures, royalty depicted, afterlife focus, twisted perspective.
• Roman Art
  • Realism, idealism, harmony, fluid poses, stiff clothing.
• Greek Art
  • Idealism, public display, humans and gods.
• Estruscan Art
  • Funerary, urban, sacred, portraits.
• Mesopotamian Art
  • Religious/political purposes, narrative imagery, human characteristics.

Key Vocabulary

• Ziggurat: Rectangle step tower.
• Votive: Offering for vows in Mesopotamian structures.
• Steele: Upright slab.
• Hypostyle Hall: Roof supported by columns.
• Sarcophagus: Type of coffin.
• Papyrus Scroll: Writing material in Egypt.
• Pharaoh: Egyptian ruler.
• Lamassu: Guardian deity.
• Bas-relief: Raised carving.
• Cella: Rooms or chambers.
• Hierarchical Scale: Size indicates importance.
• Hieroglyphs: Egyptian writing.
• Cuneiform: Writing in Mesopotamia, Persia, Urgait.
• Burnishing: Polishing technique.
• Calyx/Krater: Vase for mixing wine and water.
• Palestra: Gym for athletes.
• Canons: Judging rules.
• Contrapasso: Fluid body stance.
• Wet Drapery Technique: Clothes appear transparent.
• Ex-voto: Religious offering.
• Impluvium: Rainwater holding part of atrium.
• Atrium: Open-roofed central area.
• Hellenistic Period: Greek history after Alexander the Great's death.
• Oculus: Round opening.
• Fora: Roman marketplace.
• Hyperrealism: Detailed natural depiction.
• Realism: Accurate world depiction.
• Patricians: Educated, wealthy government men.
• Verism: Extreme natural depiction.
• Tripirate Plan: Three-part plan.
• Amphitheater: Large theater.

Overview of Art Pieces

• White Temple and Ziggurat: Political/religious purposes, entrances oriented to cardinal directions.
• Palette of King Narmer: Makeup palette depicting King Narmer.
• Votive Figures: Stand-in worshipper statues with large eyes.
• Seated Scribe: Depicts a respected Egyptian scribe.
• Standard of Ur: War and peace depictions from the Royal Tombs at Ur.
• Great Pyramids and Sphinx: Burial sites for pharaohs.
• King Menkaura and Queen: Statue symbolizing afterlife entry.
• The Code of Stele of Hammurabi: Law code received from Shamash.
• Temple of Amun-re and Hypostyle Hall: Dedicated to Amun-re and other deities.
• Mortuary Temple of Hatsheput: Temple for one of the few female pharaohs.
• Akhenaten and Family: Promotes worship of Aten, the sun god.
• Tutankhamun's Tomb: Burial preparation symbols, gold sarcophagus.
• Last Judgment of Hu-nefer: Guides royals in the afterlife.
• Lamassu from Sargon II's Citadel: Mythological guardian creature.
• Athenian Agora: From burial ground to temple and marketplace.
• Anavysos Kouros: Ideal male beauty with Egyptian influence.
• Peplos Kore: Female beauty standard and goddess representation.
• Sarcophagus of the Spouses: Displays gender equality in Estruscan society.
• Audience Hall of Darius and Xerxes: Center of Persian Empire.
• Temple of Minerva: Greek influence on Estruscan architecture.
• Tomb of the Triclinium: Celebratory meal with the dead.
• Niobides Krater: Mythological story depiction.
• Doryphoros: Harmony and proportion understanding.
• Acropolis: Contained many temples, was destroyed.
• Grave Stele of Hegeso: Depicts Hegeso with jewelry.
• Winged Victory of Samothrace: Celebrates naval victory, offering to Nike.
• Great Altar of Zeus and Athena at Pergamon: Mythological battle depiction.
• House of Vetti: Wealth of former slaves shown in decorations.
• Alexander Mosaic: Battle of Issus depiction.
• Seated Boxer: Depicts a defeated boxer showing Roman boxing culture.
• Head of a Roman Patrician: Wisdom through realistic aging depiction.
• Augustus of Prima Porta: Idealized propaganda statue.
• Colosseum: Venue for fights involving POWs, slaves.
• Forum of Trajan: Trajan's victory, cultural center.
• Pantheon: Temple turned church.
• Ludovisi Battle Sarcophagus: Narrates Romans vs. goths battle.

Sources

• Collegeboard.com, Khan Academy, Britannica.com, Site.google.com