Deck 2: The Rise of Civilization

Question 1

The rock-cut relief at Bishapur depicts:

A) the Sun-god Innana
B) the coronation of Shapur II
C) a dying lioness
D) triumph of Shapur I over Valerian

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Use of glazed brickwork is most characteristic of the city of __________.

A) Lascaux
B) Stonehenge
C) Babylon
D) Jericho

Answer 2

C

Question 3

In ancient Mesopotamia the hierarchy of scale was a convention,which indicated:

A) order of importance
B) order of the gods
C) the first families
D) the power of money

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Bull-headed capitals would most likely be found in

A) Lascaux
B) Jericho
C) Persia
D) Israel

Question 5

Which of the following best describes the Standard of Ur?

A) early example of an official account of the rulers of Sumer
B) early example of an official account of import goods
C) early example of mythological narrative
D) early example of historical narrative

Question 6

The Ziggurat at Ur can best be described as a:

A) Sumerian burial ground
B) fortified city-state
C) palace for Naram-Sin
D) Sumerian temple base

Question 7

Alexander the Great razed Persepolis in 330 BCE.What prior event suggests that this was an act of revenge?

A) destruction of Assyrian city of Nimrud
B) birth of the Sasanian dynasty
C) Persian sack of the Athenian Acropolis
D) Persian sack of Sparta

Question 8

Historical narrative relief can be found at the Assyrian palace of ___________ at Nimrud.

A) Gudea
B) Sargon IV
C) Marduk I
D) Ashurnasirpal II

Question 9

What Anatolian people constructed two huge lions that adorn the gateway to the citadel of Boghazköy?

A) Elamites
B) Hittites
C) Susans
D) Kassites

Question 10

The Mesopotamian king who codified the law and prescribed penalties for infractions was _________.

A) Urnanshe
B) Innana
C) Naram-Sin
D) Hammurabi

Question 11

The White Temple,Uruk is oriented to the _________________________.

A) Orion constellation
B) Cardinal points of the compass
C) Persian Gulf
D) North

Question 12

The new concept of godlike sovereignty can be described by the representations of _________,the king who appeared as a god in Mesopotamian Akkadian art.

A) Urnanshe
B) Naram-Sin
C) Eannatum
D) Gilgamesh

Question 13

A predominant theme or themes found in the narrative reliefs of the Assyrians was or were:

A) the sun disk, Aton
B) war and hunting
C) scenes of the afterlife
D) animal fables

Question 14

The open-eyed stares of the votive statues of ancient Sumer are thought to represent:

A) portraits of specific people
B) eternal wakefulness and duty
C) vigilance against demons
D) the priestly class

Question 15

The Victory stele of Eannatum (Stele of the Vultures)is an extraordinary monument because it provides information about warfare techniques and insight into the special nature of the ruler.Which statement provides the most valid justification for this assertion?

A) these descriptions are found in the Epic of Gilgamesh
B) excavated tablets with these descriptions are found in Nimrud
C) words and pictures are combined
D) the inclusion of vultures, which are special avatars of the ruler

Question 16

Persian relief figure sculpture can be distinguished from earlier Mesopotamian styles by:

A) the bulging muscles
B) use of extremely large eyes
C) a preference for nudity
D) forms are more rounded

Question 17

What epic poem recounts the exploits of a legendary king of Uruk and slayer of the monster Huwawa?

A) Iliad and Odyssey
B) Epic of Gilgamesh
C) Epic of Nimrud
D) Tale of Homer

Question 18

Ishtar Gate,with its relief decorations of a dragon,lion and bull,comes from the city of:

A) Lagash
B) Persepolis
C) Ur
D) Babylon

Question 19

The stylistic conventions of rigidly frontal symmetry,abnormally large eyes,and tightly clasped hands are most characteristic of the early art of ________.

A) Jericho
B) Çatal Hüyük
C) Sumer
D) Babylon

Question 20

The statement,"measuring rods and coiled rope," which connotes the ruler's capacity to build social order and render judgments,is best depicted on the ________________________.

A) Stele of Hammurabi
B) Standard of Ur
C) Victory Stele of Naram-Sin
D) Victory stele of Eannatum (Stele of the Vultures)

Question 21

The Sumerians may have been the first to use pictures to tell coherent stories.What argument makes this a valid assertion?

A) narrative presented with haphazard figures
B) narrative presented in registers or bands
C) narrative presented in squares or boxes
D) narrative presented with same-size figures

Question 22

Why was the concept of the city-state an important innovation?

Question 23

Which of the following works of art was created first?

A) Standard of Ur
B) Victory stele of Eannatum (Stele of the Vultures)
C) Worshippers from the Square Temple at Eshnunna
D) Warka Vase

Question 24

How did the destruction of Persepolis change the balance of power within the Ancient Near East?

Question 25

One of the suggested purposes of Assyrian narrative relief is to:

A) show the horror of war
B) show the joy of the hunt
C) glorify the gods
D) glorify the king

Question 26

What do the reliefs of the palace of Ashurbanipal at Nineveh depict?

Question 27

What is diorite?

A) rare and costly dark stone
B) type of clay
C) tar-like substance
D) thin rock found only in Ur

Question 28

The Elamite Empire was strong enough to plunder Babylon and carry off the stele of Naram-Sin and Hammurabi,then re-erect them in their capital city of Susa.Why is this event significant?

Question 29

What is the significance of cuneiform?

Question 30

Explain the importance of cylinder seals.

Question 31

The monumental gateway to the citadel of Persepolis is a reference to ___________________.

A) the harmony of the peoples of the Assyrian empire
B) the harmony of the peoples of the Sasanian empire
C) the harmony of the peoples of the Persian empire
D) the harmony of the peoples of the Elamite empire

Question 32

Discuss the focus of Sumerian city planning.

Question 33

The Elamite statue of Queen Napir-Asu represents the ideal queen;in addition there is an allusion to fertility,as it relates to being queen.Which motif supports this allusion?

A) hands crossed over the belly
B) upright posture
C) patterned gown
D) inscription on queen's skirt

Question 34

How does the lamassu provide a conceptual picture and all of its important parts?

Question 35

What is a lamassu and where was it placed?

Question 36

What is the purpose of a votive figure?

Question 37

The Elamite statue of Queen Napir-Asu shows its Mesopotamian heritage.Which phrase supports this assertion?

A) square volume and strict frontality
B) strict true profile and slim silhouette
C) cylindrical volume and strict frontality
D) optical profile and full silhouette

Question 38

In Assyrian relief,such as Assyrian archers pursuing enemies,the artists combine different viewpoints in the same frame and other adjustments for clarity.Which of the following phrases best describes the artists' primary goal?

A) artistic license
B) legible retelling of a decisive moment in king's deeds
C) following technical codes as established by the Sasanians
D) following technical codes as established by the Elamites

Question 39

What is an iwan?

Question 40

What is the most importance archaeological source of knowledge regarding Persian architecture?

Question 41

Describe the religion practiced by Sumer and how it affected their art.Use examples to support your essay.

Question 42

Discuss the social and economic changes that took place in the Ancient Near East.How did these changes impact the art? Use specific examples to support your essay.

Question 43

Why is the Hittite Lion Gate at Boghazköy significant?

Question 44

Describe an architectural feature used at Persepolis that seems to have been uniquely Persian.

Question 45

What was the importance of the Code of Hammurabi?

Question 46

Discuss the development of Assyrian historical narrative relief.How did it differ from their neighbors? Use examples to support your essay.

Question 47

Compare and contrast temple architecture and palace architecture.How do these structures define their respective groups? Use two distinct cultural groups and specific examples to support your essay.

Question 48

Discuss the impact Sumerian culture had on Mesopotamia.What were their contributions to the development of society and art? How did their culture influence contemporaneous and later groups? Use specific examples to develop your essay.

Question 49

Describe the differences between Assyrian relief sculpture and Achaemenid relief sculpture.Consider the function of the relief and how it reflected the group.Use examples to support your essay.

Question 50

Discuss the development of relief sculpture in the Ancient Near East.Focus on three groups.Consider changes in the proportions of the figures,the depiction of details,and the position of head and shoulders in relation to the body.Cite specific works to illustrate your argument.

Question 51

Describe the changing political map of the Ancient Near East.How did this political climate initiate change in the creative processes of three distinct groups (your choice)? How did the political climate disseminate the artistic motifs from group to group? How did your selected groups adapt these conventions to fit their respective aesthetic needs? Use examples to support your essay.

Question 52

Discuss the change in political power initiated by the Akkadians and its effect on their art.Use examples to support your essay.

Question 53

How do the reliefs on the Palace of Darius at Persepolis reflect the purpose of the building?

Question 54

Discuss the changes that have occurred in art from the Neolithic Period (Chapter 1)to the art of the ancient Near East.Use examples to support your essay.

Question 55

Describe three stylistic conventions found in Sumerian sculpture.