Deck 2: Ancient Mesopotamia and Persia

Question 1

In his pursuit of beautifying the city of Bayblon, Nebuchadnezzar II built the ____ as one of the main entrances to the city.

A)White Temple
B)Ziggurat at Ur
C)Palace of Darius
D)Ishtar Gate

Answer 1

D

Question 2

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 )

Answer 2

A

Question 3

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

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The Ziggurat at Ur can best be described as a ____.

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

Question 5

The White Temple at Uruk is oriented to the ____.

A)Orion constellation
B)cardinal points of the compass
C)Persian Gulf
D)north

Question 6

What information does the victory stele of Eannatum ( Stele of the Vultures ) provide about the nature of the ensi, or leader?

A)The ruler is equal to the soldiers.
B)Eannatum was not a brave warrior and lost.
C)Ningirsu chose Eannatum to rule Lagash.
D)Eannatum was divine.

Question 7

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 8

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 9

The rock-cut relief decorating the palace of Shapur I at Bishapur depicts ____.

A)the goddess Inanna
B)the coronation of Shapur II
C)a dying lioness
D)Shapur's capture of the Roman emperor

Question 10

Although largely influenced by Assyrian art, Persian art differed in the preference for ____.

A)bulging muscles
B)extremely large eyes
C)nudity
D)more rounded forms

Question 11

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

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

Question 12

What epic poem(s) 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 13

Bull-headed capitals would most likely be found in ____.

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

Question 14

Which of the following was not a significant contribution of the Sumerians:

A)Specialization of labor
B)The invention of post-and-lintel architecture
C)The advent of writing
D)The invention of the city-state

Question 15

The exaggeration of the eye size on Sumerian votive sculptures likely symbolizes their ____.

A)mystical visions
B)great knowledge and wisdom
C)eternal wakefulness
D)divine nature

Question 16

A central figure of the Neo-Sumerian age, ____ placed many statues in temples to render his perpetual service to the gods.

A)Ashurnasirpal
B)Imhotep
C)Senenmut
D)Gudea

Question 17

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 18

The statuettes of two worshipers, from the Square Temple at Eshnunna, created by the Sumerians, were ____.

A)placed in tombs to entertain the deceased in the afterlife
B)placed in temples in thanksgiving to the deities
C)guardians of the Citadel of Sargon II
D)used as a form of currency

Question 19

The themes portrayed in the murals that decorated Assyrian palaces were intended to ____.

A)demonstrate the ruler's religiosity
B)exalt royal power
C)provide a glimpse into the afterlife
D)show the royal protection of the king

Question 20

Found on the Warka Vase , the convention of hierarchy of scale indicated ____.

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

Question 21

What is the purpose of a votive figure?

Question 22

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

Question 23

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 24

____ is a term for the large composite creatures that guarded the gates of Assyrian royal complexes.

A)Sphinx
B)Lamassu
C)Zimri-lim
D)Ishtar

Question 25

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 26

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

Question 27

What is a lamassu , and where was it placed?

Question 28

The use of polished diorite in many depictions of Gudea is significant because ____.

A)it was symbolic of death
B)it was associated with military victory
C)it was commonly found in Ur
D)it was costly and difficult to carve

Question 29

What is the significance of cuneiform ?

Question 30

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 31

Discuss the significance and function of cylinder seals.

Question 32

Discuss the focus of Sumerian city planning.

Question 33

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

Question 34

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

Question 35

In Assyrian relief, such as the 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 a king's deeds
C)Following technical codes as established by the Sasanians
D)Following technical codes as established by the Elamites

Question 36

The name for the monumental gateway to the citadel of Persepolis, that Gate of All Lands, 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 37

Explain the importance of cylinder seals.

Question 38

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 39

What is an iwan ?

Question 40

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

Question 41

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

Question 42

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 43

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 44

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 the head and shoulders in relation to the body. Cite specific works to illustrate your argument.

Question 45

Describe three stylistic conventions found in Sumerian sculpture.

Question 46

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

Question 47

What concept of leadership did the Akkadians introduce to ancient Mesopotamia, and how did this influence their art?

Question 48

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

Question 49

Why is the Hittite Lion Gate at Boghazköy significant?

Question 50

What was the importance of the code of Hammurabi?

Question 51

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 52

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 53

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 54

What was the primary purpose of Assyrian relief sculpture, and why was it unique in terms of style and subject matter from other ancient Mesopotamian cultures? Use examples to support your essay.

Question 55

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.