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Essay Test Near East, Egyptian, Ancient Greece, and Roman Art
This question is worth 100 points.
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ART HISTORY SECTION II—Part B Time—60 minutes 2 Questions Directions: You will have 60 minutes to answer the two questions in this part. Responses that answer the question directly will receive higher scores than those that simply list characteristics or include irrelevant points. Therefore, spend a few minutes organizing or outlining your response in the blank space provided above each question. (Notes in the blank space will not be graded.) Be sure to analyze each question carefully and choose appropriate examples. Identify your examples fully as possible. _____________________________________________ 9. Art is often used by patrons* to authorize their power. Often this use of art is defined as propaganda. Identify at least two works, each from a different art historical period and culture, and discuss how the work of art authorizes the power of the patron who commissioned it. (30 minutes) Patron: a person who commissions art; a person who pays for the art to be made.
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Hatshepsut as Sphinx, Dynasty 18, c. 1473-1458 BCE
How does Hatshepsut authorize her power (through this visual representation of herself)?
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A relief panel from the Arch of Constantine.
Who is at the center of this relief? Who is seated on the throne? At whom does everyone look?
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Stele of Naramsin c. 2254-2218 BCE Akkad This stele is meant to commemorate an important victory.
Why is Naramsin so much bigger than the other figures in the relief? Do you remember the term “hieratic scale”? Where do all the soldiers—both the vanquished mountain people as well as Naramsin’s soldiers—gaze? Stele of Naramsin c BCE Akkad Why is Naramsin so much bigger than the other figures in the relief? What is hieratic scale?
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The Colossus of Constantine, c. 312-15
Was originally placed in the west apse of the Basilica of Maxentius c
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Human-Headed Winged Lion Lamassu (plural: lamassus) 883-859 Assyrian
The entire purpose of a lamassu is to inspire civic pride and to inspire fear. A lamassu is a guardian-protector of an Assyrian palace or throne room. Usually a lamassu is twice a man’s height to symbolize the strength of the ruler the lamassu defends. Why does the lamassu have five legs? Hint: How is the viewer meant to interact with this sculpture? Human-Headed Winged Lion Lamassu (plural: lamassus) Assyrian What is a lamassu? A guardian-protector of an Assyrian palace or throne room Why is a lamassu large—usually twice a man’s height? To symbolize the strength of the ruler the lamassu defends. What is the purpose of the lamassu? To inspire civic pride and fear
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Equestrian Sculpture of Marcus Aurelius c. 173-76 C.E.
What do you notice about Marcus Aurelius’ posture on this very spirited (lively, agitated) horse? What do What do you notice about Marcus Aurelius’ size in comparison with his horse?
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Stele of Hammurabi c The two men at the top of the stele are Hammurabi and Shamash (the sun god and god of justice). Hammurabi created the most important set of legal codes from the Ancient Near East. These legal codes predate the biblical Ten Commandments and may be the source of these laws. Notice that Hammurabi is almost as large as Shamash; Hammurabi addresses Shamash directly. This image on the stele argues powerfully that Hammurabi’s code was given directly to him by god—by Shamash. Notice the rays of light which emanate from Shamash’s shoulders. He is seated on a throne which is “seated” at the top of a mountain. The idea represented here is that the laws are somehow immutable and divine; the laws are given to man by god. Stele of Hammurabi c Babylonia, Mari Who are the two men at the top of the stele? Hammurabi and Shamash (the sun god and god of justice) What is the significance of this stele? It was intended to ensure the uniform treatment of people throughout the kingdom; wealth, class, and gender determine rights and punishments What was the king’s role? To act as an intermediary between his citizens and the gods.
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Akhenaten and His Family Dynasty 18, c. 1352-1336 BCE
Can you read this image symbolically? Akhenaten believed in one god—the sun god. The sun god—Aten—is blessing Nefertiti and Akhenaten by holding ankhs to their nostrils (the symbol of eternal life).
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Coin with head of Alexander
This coin was issued by Lysimachus, the former general of Alexander the Great. After Alexander's death, Lysimachus ruled part of Alexander's empire in Bulgaria, northern Greece and Turkey known as 'Thrace'. Lysimachus used Alexander's portrait on his coins to emphasize his position as Alexander's successor. Alexander was worshipped as a god after his death. Here he sports the ram's horns of the god, Zeus Ammon, whom Egyptian priests claimed was Alexander's father. On the reverse of the coin is the goddess Athena. Alexander was born in the kingdom of Macedon in 356 BCE. By the age of 25 he had conquered Greece, Egypt and Persia, creating an empire spanning 2 million square miles. Following his death in 323 BCE, Alexander's generals began to squabble over his legacy. Since they could not claim a blood-tie, these generals tried to legitimize their rule through other connections with Alexander. Eventually they divided the empire into three main kingdoms in Macedon, Egypt and Persia and went on to form powerful dynasties. Coin with head of Alexander ca BCE This coin was issued by Lysimachus, the former general of Alexander the Great. After Alexander's death, Lysimachus ruled part of Alexander's empire in Bulgaria, northern Greece and Turkey known as 'Thrace'. How does Lysimachus use this coin to authorize his power? What four important visual signifiers can you identify?
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Augustus of Primaporta early 1st century
idealization of a ruler imperial portraiture used for political propaganda
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