Unit 2: Ancient Mediterranean Art and Architecture (3500 BCE–300 CE)

Fertile Crescent

The region in the Middle East where early complex societies and agriculture developed, encompassing parts of modern Iraq, Syria, and Turkey.

Nile Valley

The region surrounding the Nile River in Egypt, crucial for the development of Ancient Egyptian civilization.

Ziggurat

Massive, stepped platforms that served as temples in Sumerian cities, conceptualized as 'man-made mountains'.

Mud Brick

A building material made from mud and straw used extensively in Sumerian architecture due to the scarcity of stone.

Cella

The central room of a temple, where the idol of the deity was located.

Bent-Axis Approach

An architectural design where visitors must navigate corners and changes in direction to reach the entrance of a structure.

Votive Figures

Statues intended as stand-ins for donors placed in temples to offer prayer to deities.

Standard of Ur

An artifact from ancient Sumer that illustrates the hierarchy in society and the themes of war and peace.

Hierarchy of Scale

An artistic convention where the size of figures indicates their importance within a composition.

Stele

An upright stone slab often used for commemorative purposes or markers, such as the Code of Hammurabi.

Foreshortening

Artistic technique used to create an illusion of depth by depicting an object or figure in a compressed form.

Apotropaic

Art that is designed to ward off evil spirits or enemies.

Composite Creature

A mythical being featuring parts from different animals or humans, such as the Lamassu.

Axial Plan

A design featuring a straight line of access from an entrance to a sanctuary or significant space.

Clerestory Lighting

An architectural feature that allows natural light to enter from above, enhancing interior spaces.

Twisted Perspective

An artistic convention in which different parts of a subject are shown from multiple viewpoints, commonly used in Egyptian art.

Palette of King Narmer

A ceremonial palette commemorating the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt, showcasing early Egyptian iconography.

Ben-Ben

A pyramidal stone that represented the sun god Re, symbolizing creation in ancient Egyptian belief.

Great Pyramids

Monumental tomb structures built during Egypt's Old Kingdom to honor pharaohs and ensure their afterlife.

The Amarna Period

A brief artistic period in ancient Egypt characterized by a radical change in art and religion under Pharaoh Akhenaten.

Mortuary Temple

A temple dedicated to a deceased pharaoh, serving as a site for offerings and worship.

Tutankhamun’s Tomb

The burial site of the young pharaoh, famous for its wealth and artifacts which showcased ancient Egyptian beliefs in the afterlife.

Weighing of the Heart

An ancient Egyptian belief that the heart of the deceased was weighed against a feather to determine their fate in the afterlife.

Pylon Temples

Large temple complexes with monumental gateways, designed for worship and honoring the gods.

Ma’at

The concept of divine order, balance, and truth in ancient Egyptian culture.

Stylized Art

Art that is deliberately abstract and idealized rather than attempting to replicate reality.