CHAPTER 3 Ancient Egypt
Multiple-Choice Questions
1. The world’s longest river is
a. the River Jordan.
b. the Tigris.
c. the Nile.
d. the Mississippi.
e. the Amazon.
Answer: c
2. Hapy is the god of
a. hymns.
b. happiness.
c. the Nile.
d. Nubia.
e. Cairo.
Answer: c
3. Which of the following is true?
a. Upper Egypt is north and Lower Egypt is south.
b. The Blue Nile is north of the White Nile.
c. Upper Egypt is south and Lower Egypt is north.
d. The Nile delta is in the south.
e. The Nile floods every year without fail.
Answer: c
4. “Gift of the Nile” refers to
a. Hapy.
b. Moses.
c. Osiris.
d. Egypt.
e. Lake Victoria.
Answer: d
5. The annual flooding of the Nile is symbolized by the birth and death of
a. Artemis.
b. Horus.
c. Rameses.
d. Osiris.
Answer: d
6. Egyptian history is divided into
a. chronological dates.
b. king lists.
c. dynasties.
d. months and years.
Answer: c
7. Narmer was associated with
a. Menes.
b. Manetho.
c. Alexander the Great.
d. Menkaure.
e. Nefertiti.
Answer: a
8. The ________ shows the uniting of Upper and Lower Egypt and the establishment of the
First Dynasty.
a. Palette of Naram-Sin
b. Palette of Narmer
c. Palette of Khafre
d. Rosetta Stone
Answer: b
9. Which of the following is true?
a. Isis is the mother of Horus.
b. Bes is a death god.
c. Anubis is in the shape of a crocodile.
d. Horus opens the mouth of the dead.
e. Amon is the sun disk.
Answer: a
10. Which of the following is true?
a. Hatshepsut was the first queen of Egypt.
b. Akhenaten was an Old Kingdom pharaoh.
c. Narmer worshipped Aten.
d. Nefertiti was Akhenaten’s mother.
e. Amenhotep III was Akhenaten’s father.
Answer: e
11. Which of the following is NOT true?
a. The Palette of Narmer utilizes a system of hierarchical proportions.
b. The Palette of Narmer is a ceremonial object.
c. The Palette of Narmer is decorated in high relief.
d. The Palette of Narmer is made of slate.
e. The Palette of Narmer dates to c. 3000 B.C.
Answer: c
12. The Rosetta Stone is important because
a. it led to the decipherment of hieroglyphics.
b. it is a unique stele.
c. it has Greek, cuneiform, and Egyptian writing on it.
d. it has Greek, Coptic, and Egyptian writing on it.
Answer: a
13. The Book of Two Ways is
a. a funeral text.
b. a pyramid text.
c. a map of the underworld.
d. a coffin text.
e. a ritual incantation.
Answer: c
14. Imhotep was
a. the sun god.
b. an architect.
c. a sculptor.
d. a painter.
e. a pharaoh.
Answer: b
15. The forerunner of the Pyramid appears to be the
a. ziggurat.
b. obelisk.
c. mastaba.
d. stone-cut temple.
Answer: c
16. The only surviving step pyramid was built for
a. Menkaure.
b. Khufu.
c. Khafre.
d. Narmer.
e. Zoser.
Answer: e
17. The three great pyramids are located at
a. Saqqara
b. Cairo
c. Alexandria
d. Giza
e. Thebes
Answer: d
18. Which of the following is an Old Kingdom Egyptian pharaoh who built his tomb at Giza?
a. Seti
b. Akhenaten
c. Khafre
d. Tutankhamun
Answer: c
19. All of the following are characteristic of ancient Egyptian artistic conventions EXCEPT
a. head full front.
b. eyes full front.
c. shoulders full front.
d. feet in profile.
Answer: a
20. For the most part, pyramids are believed to have been built by
a. slaves.
b. Jews.
c. seasonal workers.
d. Nubians.
Answer: c
21. The conventions for representing the human figure that dominated Egyptian art first occur
about 3500 B.C. in the
a. Rosetta Stone.
b. Standard of Heliopolis.
c. Palette of Narmer.
d. Stele of Ramses.
Answer: c
22. The Egyptian canon of proportion was organized according to
a. nature.
b. a grid.
c. curves and rectangles.
d. triangles and trapezoids.
Answer: b
23. Royal figures in Egyptian art are
a. naturalistic and assertive.
b. hieratic and naturalistic.
c. assertive and stylized.
d. stylized and miniature.
e. monumental and unassuming.
Answer: c
24. The seated statue of Khafre dates to around
a. 3000 B.C.
b. 2500 B.C.
c. 2000 B.C.
d. 3500 B.C.
Answer: b
25. Menkaure and Khamerernebty are
a. a sculpture in the round.
b. a wall painting.
c. architects.
d. a sculpture in very high relief.
e. Egyptians gods.
Answer: d
26. The closest meaning of the word “ka” is
a. ego.
b. double.
c. alter-ego.
d. self-image.
e. twin.
Answer: b
27. Rahotep and Nofret are NOT
a. a prince and a princess.
b. two seated sculptures.
c. a king and a queen.
d. depicted in high relief.
e. seated in rigid poses.
Answer: c
28. An Egyptian scribe was
a. a slave.
b. a scribbler.
c. a well-educated person.
d. an author of scripture.
Answer: c
29. Lady Senuwy was
a. a courtesan.
b. a princess.
c. a queen.
d. a slave.
e. a lady-in-waiting.
Answer: b
30. Egyptian paintings of royal figures are generally
a. naturalistic.
b. stylized.
c. colossal.
d. colorful.
Answer: b
31. The source of Egyptian column types is generally
a. human forms.
b. animal forms.
c. plant forms.
d. architectural forms.
e. symbolic forms.
Answer: c
32. The Egyptians used which of the following columns?
a. papyrus reeds with flower capitals
b. animal or human figure supports
c. smooth, widening shafts with bud-shaped capitals
d. fluted pillars with acanthus leaf capitals
Answer: d
33. A building technique commonly used in Egyptian temples was
a. post-and-lintel.
b. adobe.
c. the true arch.
d. mortise and tenon.
Answer: a
34. Which is not true of the hypostyle hall?
a. It has columns with a base, shaft, and capital.
b. The center columns are shorter than the side columns.
c. The center columns are taller than the side columns.
d. It has columns with a shaft and capital, but no base.
e. The shafts of its columns are covered with hieroglyphs.
Answer: b
35. A cartouche
a. is a form of cartonnage.
b. is a serekh.
c. is a scarab.
d. frames the name of a king.
e. frames a plan of the king’s palace.
Answer: d
36. The Temple of Amon-Mut-Khonsu is in
a. Karnak.
b. Thebes.
c. Cairo.
d. Amarna.
e. Luxor.
Answer: e
37. Most pyramids were built by pharaohs in
a. Nubia.
b. the Middle Kingdom.
c. the Old Kingdom.
d. the New Kingdom.
Answer: c
38. Tomb frescoes were most popular in
a. Nubia.
b. the Middle Kingdom.
c. the Old Kingdom.
d. the New Kingdom.
Answer: d
39. The four pillars found in the tomb of Nefertari symbolically
a. honored the four previous dynasties.
b. represented the ancient elements of earth, wind, fire, and water.
c. supported the heavens.
d. protected her on the perilous path to the afterlife.
Answer: c
40. The tip of an obelisk is called a
a. pylon.
b. taper.
c. benben.
d. pyramidion.
e. hypostyle.
Answer: d
41. Hatshepsut declared herself the offspring of
a. Osiris.
b. Amon.
c. Anubis.
d. Hathor.
e. Aten.
Answer: b
42. Hatshepsut’s chief architect was
a. Nefrure.
b. Ahmose.
c. Tuthmose.
d. Senenmut.
e. Imhotep.
Answer: d
43. The ankh is a symbol of
a. god.
b. life.
c. happiness.
d. immortality.
e. death.
Answer: b
44. Hatshepsut’s greatest architectural achievement is
a. the temple at Karnak.
b. the temple at Thebes.
c. the temple at Amarna.
d. the temple at Deir el-Bahri.
e. the temple at Luxor.
Answer: d
45. Most Egyptian wall paintings were made of
a. tempera.
b. encaustic.
c. buon fresco.
d. fresco secco.
e. oil.
Answer: d
46. Akhenaten was a
a. polytheist.
b. prince.
c. monk.
d. sun-worshipper.
e. mason.
Answer: d
47. The Amarna style showed
a. caricatured faces and postures.
b. intimate, relaxed poses.
c. the pharaoh in the traditional twisted view.
d. both caricatured faces and postures and intimate, relaxed poses.
Answer: d
48. The Amarna period is associated with
a. Akhenaten and Amenhotep III.
b. Akhenaten and Nefertiti.
c. Akhenaten and Tiy.
d. Akhenaten and Amon.
e. Akhenaten and Isis.
Answer: b
49. Styles under Akhenaten were more ________ than before his reign.
a. stylized
b. hieratic
c. conventional
d. naturalistic
e. religious
Answer: d
50. Tutankhamon is a well-known pharaoh because
a. he lived a long time.
b. his tomb was discovered intact.
c. he was a great scribe.
d. he was a revolutionary thinker.
e. his mummy was discovered and preserved.
Answer: b
51. The temple at Abu Simbel honors
a. Ramses II.
b. Hatshepsut.
c. Akhenaten.
d. Nefertiti.
Answer: a
52. Canopic jars contain
a. preserved foods.
b. preserved works of art.
c. preserved items of clothing.
d. preserved organs.
e. preserved texts.
Answer: d
53. Which of the following is NOT a Nubian culture?
a. Kerma
b. Kush
c. Meroë
d. Punt
Answer: d
54. For Egypt, Nubia was a source of
a. pottery.
b. weapons.
c. gems and metals.
d. artists.
e. art and architecture.
Answer: c
55. The function of the shield rings found at Amanishakheto’s tomb was
a. funerary.
b. religious.
c. commercial.
d. artistic.
e. The function of the shield rings is not known.
Answer: e
56. Which of the following was NOT significant in Nubian culture?
a. elephants
b. tombs
c. arrows
d. pottery
e. Aten
Answer: e
Key Works
Palette of Narmer (“Upper Egypt” side), Hierakonpolis, c. 3100 B.C.
Palette of Narmer (“Lower Egypt” side), Hierakonpolis, c. 3100 B.C.
Rosetta Stone, 196 B.C.
Canopic jars of Neshkons
Vignette from Paynedjem’s Book of the Dead, Thebes, Twenty-first Dynasty, c. 990–969 B.C.
Step pyramid, funerary complex of King Zoser, Saqqara, Egypt, c. 2630–2611 B.C.
Pyramids at Giza, Egypt, c. 2555–2472 B.C.
Colossal statue of Khafre, known as the Great Sphinx, Giza, c. 2520–2494 B.C.
Seated statue of Khafre, Giza, c. 2520–2494 B.C.
Menkaure and Queen Khamerernebty, Giza, 2490–2472 B.C.
Prince Rahotep and his wife Nofret, c. 2551–2528 B.C.
Seated scribe, Saqqara, c. 2551–2528 B.C.
Lady Senuwy, Twelfth Dynasty, c. 1971–1926 B.C.
Sesostris I, Lisht, Twelfth Dynasty, c. 1971–1926 B.C.
Sesostris III, c. 1878–1841 B.C.
Painted coffin of Djehuty-nekht, Bersheh, Twelfth Dynasty, c. 1971–1926 B.C.
Hypostyle hall (model), temple of Amon-Ra, Karnak, c. 1294–1213 B.C.
Court and pylon of Ramses II (1279–1213 B.C.) and colonnade and court of Amenhotep III
(1390–1352 B.C.), temple of Amon-Mut-Khonsu, Luxor, Nineteenth Dynasty
Statue of Hatshepsut as pharaoh, Eighteenth Dynasty, c. 1473–1458 B.C.
Funerary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Deir el-Bahri, Egypt, c. 1504–1425 B.C.
Statue of Senenmut and Nefrura, Eighteenth Dynasty, c. 1473–1458 B.C.
Nebamun hunting birds, from the tomb of Nebamun, Thebes, Egypt, c. 1390–1352 B.C.
Opening of the Mouth ceremony, Book of the Dead of Hunefer, New Kingdom, Nineteenth
Dynasty, c. 1295–1186 B.C.
Tomb of Nefertari (detail), Nineteenth Dynasty, c. 1290–1224 B.C.
Akhenaten, Karnak, Egypt, 1353–1350 B.C.
Bust of Nefertiti, Amarna period, 1349–1336 B.C.
Akhenaten and Nefertiti and their children, Amarna period, 1349–1336 B.C.
Mask of Tutankhamon, c. 1327 B.C.
Canopic coffinette (coffin of Tutankhamon), c. 1327 B.C.
King and Queen of Punt, from Hatshepsut’s funerary temple, Deir el-Bahri, c. 1473–1458 B.C.
Nubian “eggshell” vessels, c. 3100–2890 B.C.
Nubians bringing offerings to Egypt, Thebes, Nineteenth Dynasty, c. 1295–1186 B.C.
Presentation of Nubian tribute to Tutankhamon, tomb chapel of Huy, Thebes, Eighteenth
Dynasty, c. 1336–1327 B.C.
Temple of Ramses II, Abu Simbel, Nubia, 1279–1213 B.C.
Sphinx of Taharqo, Temple T, Kawa, Nubia, 690–664 B.C.
Ruins of the Meroë pyramids, Nubia, 3rd–1st century B.C.
Tomb of Amanishakheto, Meroë, Nubia, late 1st century B.C.
“Shield ring” with Amon as a ram, Meroë, Nubia, c. 200 B.C.
Maps, Diagrams, and Projections
Map of Ancient Egypt and Nubia
Royal names: serekhs and cartouches
Diagram of a scarab
Diagram of a wedjat (the eye of Horus)
The step pyramid with a mastaba base
Cross section of the pyramid of Khufu
Plan of the Giza funerary complex
Egyptian proportional grid
Plan of a typical pylon temple
Diagram of a pylon façade
Plan of the temple of Amon-Mut-Khonsu, Luxor, Egypt, begun c. 1390 B.C.
Key Terms
canon
canopic jars
cartonnage
clerestory
corbelling
engaged column
fresco
frieze
gesso
hypostyle hall
mastaba
obelisk
papyrus
pharaoh
pier
pilaster
pylon
pyramidion
sarcophagus
sphinx
step pyramid
vellum