Question 1

"The one who saw the abyss." refers to
A)Inanna.
B)Achilles.
C)Enki.
D)Gilgamesh.
E)Abu.

Accepted Answer

This phrase refers to Gilgamesh, a major hero in ancient Mesopotamian mythology, particularly known from the Epic of Gilgamesh, where he undertakes a quest for immortality and in the process sees the abyss.

Question 2

Sumerian art is characterized by
A)symmetry when seen from the front.
B)clasped hands.
C)large eyes in upturned faces.
D)All these answers are correct.

Accepted Answer

Sumerian art is characterized by all these features, including symmetry when seen from the front, clasped hands, and large eyes in upturned faces.

Question 3

The staring,wide eyes of the Tell Asmar statues are believed to indicate that the figures are
A)apotropaic.
B)praying.
C)in the presence of a god.
D)terrified by evil spirits.

Accepted Answer

The wide, staring eyes of the Tell Asmar statues are interpreted as a sign of awe or devotion, indicating that the figures are in the presence of a god. This feature is thought to represent the figures' eternal vigilance and attentiveness to the deity they are facing.

Question 4

The oldest planned town excavated so far is located at
A)Çatal Hüyük.
B)Jerusalem.
C)Jericho.
D)Babylon.

Accepted Answer

Çatal Hüyük, located in present-day Turkey, is the oldest planned town that has been excavated so far. The site dates back to the Neolithic period and was inhabited from approximately 7500 BCE to 5700 BCE. The town was intentionally designed with a grid-like street pattern and featured homes with elaborate wall paintings and sculptures.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a Mesopotamian god?
A)Anu
B)Isis
C)Ishtar
D)Inanna

Accepted Answer

Isis is an Egyptian goddess, not a Mesopotamian god.

Question 6

The oldest fortified city,and a place of continuous habitation,is
A)Malta.
B)Çatal Hüyük.
C)Stonehenge.
D)Jericho.

Accepted Answer

Jericho is the oldest fortified city with a history of continuous habitation, dating back to around 8000 BC. The city's walls were over 13 feet high and 6.5 feet thick, making it a formidable fortress. Malta, Çatal Hüyük, and Stonehenge are ancient sites, but they were not fortified cities with continuous habitation like Jericho.

Question 7

Plastered Neolithic skulls were found in
A)Uruk.
B)Jericho.
C)Ur.
D)Tell Asmar.

Accepted Answer

Plastered Neolithic skulls were found in Jericho, specifically at the site of Tell es-Sultan.

Question 8

The Mesopotamians believed in
A)a heavenly afterlife.
B)a gloomy afterlife.
C)a joyous afterlife.
D)a materialistic afterlife.

Accepted Answer

The Mesopotamians believed in a gloomy afterlife, where the soul would go to the "land of no return" or the "house of dust" where the dead would live in a dark underworld. This belief was reflected in their funeral practices, where they would bury their dead with an assortment of grave goods to ensure the comfort of the deceased in the afterlife.

Question 9

The largest Neolithic site so far discovered in the ancient Near East is located in modern
A)Iraq.
B)Iran.
C)Turkey.
D)Jordan.

Accepted Answer

The largest Neolithic site in the ancient Near East is located in modern Turkey. The site is called Çatalhöyük, and it was inhabited from approximately 7500 BCE to 5700 BCE. The site is considered to be one of the most important archaeological sites in the world for the study of early human societies.

Question 10

The first recorded epic is about
A)Noah.
B)Odysseus.
C)Abraham.
D)Gilgamesh.
E)Inanna.

Accepted Answer

The epic of Gilgamesh is considered the first recorded epic in history, dating back to ancient Mesopotamia. It tells the story of a legendary king named Gilgamesh and his adventures, including his search for everlasting life.

Question 11

The beards of the Tell Asmar statues are best described as
A)red and stylized.
B)naturalistic and black.
C)stylized and curvilinear.
D)black and stylized.
E)black and curvilinear.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The beards of the Tell Asmar statues...

Question 12

Nergal and Ereshkigal are the
A)king and queen of the underworld.
B)king and queen of the sky.
C)king and queen of nature.
D)king and queen of the sea.

Accepted Answer

Nergal and Ereshkigal are the king and queen of the underworld in Mesopotamian mythology. They were believed to have control over the realm of the dead.

Question 13

Ziggurats are
A)symbolic temples.
B)symbolic rivers.
C)symbolic sculptures.
D)symbolic mountains.

Accepted Answer

Ziggurats were ancient Mesopotamian structures that served as religious and administrative centers. They were built in a terraced pyramid shape, resembling a mountain, and were believed to be a place where the gods could descend to earth. Therefore, the best choice is D, symbolic mountains.

Question 14

A ziggurat is a
A)pyramid.
B)fort.
C)building made by Gudea.
D)Mesopotamian temple platform.

Accepted Answer

A ziggurat is a Mesopotamian temple platform, consisting of a multi-tiered structure with a flat top where a temple was located. It was an important religious and cultural symbol in ancient Mesopotamia, and several examples still exist today in modern-day Iraq. While a ziggurat may share some similarities with a pyramid, it is a distinct type of structure with its own unique features and purposes.

Question 15

Which of the following was found at Uruk?
A)the White Temple
B)the Abu Temple
C)the Ur Temple
D)the Stele of Urnammu

Accepted Answer

The White Temple was found at Uruk along with other ancient structures, including the Anu Ziggurat and the Eanna Temple. The Abu Temple and the Ur Temple are located at other ancient sites. The Stele of Urnammu was found at the ancient city of Nippur, not Uruk.

Question 16

The earliest known writing is called
A)cuneiform.
B)hieroglyphics.
C)the alphabet.
D)Akkadian.

Accepted Answer

Cuneiform is the earliest known writing system, believed to have been created by the Sumerians in Mesopotamia around 3500 BCE. Hieroglyphics were created around the same time in ancient Egypt, but cuneiform predates them slightly. The alphabet as we know it today wasn't developed until much later, and Akkadian is a language that was written using cuneiform.

Question 17

Ziggurats are an example of
A)post-and-lintel construction.
B)arcuated construction.
C)load-bearing construction.
D)cantilever construction.

Accepted Answer

Ziggurats are an example of load-bearing construction, where the walls themselves support the weight of the roof. This method is one of the earliest forms of construction, typical of ancient Mesopotamian architecture, where ziggurats were constructed.

Question 18

Shamash is the Akkadian
A)moon god.
B)lightning god.
C)sun god.
D)supreme god.

Accepted Answer

Shamash was known as the sun god in Akkadian mythology. He was considered one of the most important deities, and his worship was widespread throughout Mesopotamia. Shamash was associated with justice, truth, and divine law, and was often depicted holding a stylus and tablet, symbolizing his role as a scribe and record-keeper.

Question 19

The hieros gamos refers to
A)a festival of the new year.
B)a fertility ceremony.
C)a sacred marriage.
D)a holy game.

Accepted Answer

The hieros gamos is a Greek term that refers to the sacred marriage or union between a deity and a mortal, or between two deities. It was often celebrated through rituals and ceremonies that symbolized fertility and the creation of new life.

Question 20

Neolithic cultures in the Near East developed about ________ years earlier than in Europe.
A)1,000
B)2,000
C)3,000
D)4,000
E)5,000

Accepted Answer

Neolithic cultures in the Near East developed about 4,000 years earlier than in Europe. The Neolithic period in the Near East began around 10,000 BCE, while in Europe it began around 6,000 BCE.

Quiz 2: The Ancient Near East

"The one who saw the abyss." refers to

Sumerian art is characterized by

The staring,wide eyes of the Tell Asmar statues are believed to indicate that the figures are

The oldest planned town excavated so far is located at

Which of the following is NOT a Mesopotamian god?

The oldest fortified city,and a place of continuous habitation,is

Plastered Neolithic skulls were found in

The Mesopotamians believed in

The largest Neolithic site so far discovered in the ancient Near East is located in modern

The first recorded epic is about

The beards of the Tell Asmar statues are best described as

Nergal and Ereshkigal are the

Ziggurats are

A ziggurat is a

Which of the following was found at Uruk?

The earliest known writing is called

Ziggurats are an example of

Shamash is the Akkadian

The hieros gamos refers to

Neolithic cultures in the Near East developed about ________ years earlier than in Europe.