ART HISTORY I - Terms (PART 1)

Paleolithic

A period in human history that is distinguished by the original stone tools

Neolithic

A period of human history in which polished stone implements prevailed and persisted until the use of bronze mental implements

radiocarbon dating

A scientific method of determining the age of an object, based on the presence of the carbon-14 in organic material

megalithic

A large stone that has been used to construct a prehistoric structure or monument

post and lintel

A form of construction in which two upright posts support a horizontal beam

adobe

Made of sun dried clay, usually combined with organic materials

register

A horizontal section of a work, usually a clearly defined band or line

cuneiform

A logo syllabic script that was used to write several languages

votive

An image or object created as a devotional offering to a deity

hierarchy of scale

A technique that is sometimes used in visual arts, in which figures in art are scaled in proportion to their perceived significance

stele

A carved stone slab that is placed upright and often features commemorative imagery and or inscriptions

ziggurat

A stepped pyramid or tower-like structure in a Mesopotamian temple complex

hieroglyph

A type of written script that uses conventionalized signs to represent concepts, sounds, or words

necropolis

A large cemetery, Greek for city of the dead

mastaba

A massive, flat topped rectangular tomb building with slanted side walls, built of either mud brick or cut stone

ka

Statues intended to provide a resting place of the person after death

serdab

A narrow chamber either concealed or accessible only by narrow passage which contains a statue of the deceased

step pyramid

A monumental stone pyramid built using stacked platforms or steps

lamassu

A celestial being bearing a human head, bull's body, sometimes with the horns and the ears of a bull, and wings

sarcophagus

A container for human remains

sunken relief

Carving that is sunken into an area and does not project above the surface

obelisk

A rectangular stone pillar with a pyramid top, usually a landmark or a monument to a person or event

Book of the dead

Ancient text generally written on paprys about how to get into the afterlife

material culture

The materials, objects, and technologies that accompany everyday life

zoomorphic

Having an animal like form

fang ding

Ancient rectangular cauldrons standing on four legs and with two facing handles

taotie

The name given to the composite animal mask frequently found on bronzes

corbeled roof

A roof made of stone slabs that progressively overlap to create a dome, topped with a capstone

shaft grave

A type of deep rectangular burial structure, containing a floor of pebbles, walls of rubble masonry

tholos

A round, vaulted building, often a tomb, shaped like a beehive

fresco

A wall or ceiling painting on wet plaster, wet pigment merges with the plaster, and once hardened the painting becomes an integral part of the wall