Durham School of the Arts
AP Art History
Mrs. Stesch
Study Guide
Unit 2: Art of the Ancient Near East & Egypt
Text: Chapter 2 & 3 of Art History
Theme One: S.A.B.H.A.P.
(1) that dominant cultures in the Ancient Near East continually replaced one another, and
(2) the chronological order of the cultures that were in power at any given time:
Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, Hittite, Assyrian, Persian
Theme Two: Tombs, Temples, and Timelessness
This theme reminds us that much of Egyptian art was created for tombs or temples; both the style and
media of Egyptian works can be discussed in relation to the idea of permanence.
APAH Homework Assignment
Due: __________________________
1. Read the relevant pages in your art history text (top right of this paper) and make clear (but brief)
notes on the background information and applicable art work. This is for deeper contextual
understanding. Anything from the background or assigned artworks in the chapter may show
up on your unit tests-even if we didn’t go over it.
2. Explain/define (briefly) all words in the “Vocabulary” section that you are uncertain of-use the
textbook glossary or a dictionary. Use loose leaf paper.
3. Answer the study questions. Use loose leaf paper. Study questions and vocabulary will all be
turned in on the day of the test, along with your flash cards.
4. Complete the first two sections of relevant works from Khan Academy’s Art of the Ancient
Mediterranean.
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ancient-art-civilizations
Note: anything from Khan Academy’s quizzes may show up on your unit tests.
5. All image flash cards (cue cards).
Vocabulary
1. stylus
12. narrative
23. votive
34. composite
creatures
35. votive
36. Tigris & Euphrates
Rivers
45. polytheism
2. stele
3. guardian
Figures
13. cuneiform
14. registers
24. surrogate
25. lamassu
4. ziggurat
5. hieroglyphics
15. mud-brick
16. Rosetta Stone
26. bent axis
27. in situ
37. Lapis Lazuli
38. pharaohs
48. apadana
49. canon of
proportion
6. papyrus
7. ka
17. Monotheism
18. Amarna Style
28. Horus
29. Aten/Aton
39. Nile
40. Book of the Dead
50. necropolis
51. convention
s
8. sarcophagus
19. mummification
30. canopic jars
41. mortuary/funerary
temple
52. citadel
9. hierarchical
(hieratic) scale
20. heraldic
composition
31. composite
view
42. pyramid
53. mastaba
10. Stepped
pyramid
21. Sunken relief
32. diorite
43. Sequential ordering
54. pylon
46. conical
47. gold leaf
Durham School of the Arts
11. Valley temple
of Giza
22. Funerary
temple of Giza
AP Art History
33. Causeway
of Giza
44. Canopic jars
Mrs. Stesch
55. Capitals (of
columns)
See back of page
Homework Questions
1. Why was a written language invented, who invented it, and what was it?
2. Describe the role of Ancient Near Eastern religions and the architecture that evolved
as a result.
3. What role did the Tigris & Euphrates play in connection with Ancient Near Eastern
(ANE) religion?
4. What is sacred space? What was considered sacred space in the ANE?
5. How were the first visual narratives organized in Sumer? Specifically discuss the
organization of the Standard of Ur.
6. Discuss the availability of architectural materials in both the ANE and Egypt and how
those materials determined engineering and function
7. Why was twisted perspective “two points of view in the representation of a single
figure” used?
8. What was the Egyptian view of the afterlife?
9. What was the function of art as it related to the ka?
10. Describe the mummification process.
11. What would be considered sacred space in ancient Egypt?
12. Explain the canon of proportion in ancient Egyptian Art (see pg. 65).
13. Describe the conventions and traditions in representing the kings in the Old Kingdom.
14. How did Hatshepsut and Akenaton challenge the above conventions and traditions?
15. How were men and women represented differently in paintings and what does it say
about gender roles in ancient Egypt?
16. Describe the funerary ritual that took place at Giza when Khafre, Khufu, and Menkaura
died.
17. What are Books of the Dead?
18. What was the last judgment in Ancient Egypt, as seen in Judgment of Hu-Nefer Before
Osiris?