| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| clerestory | An architectural feature consisting of windows or openings in the upper walls of a building that allow light to enter the interior space. |
| eclecticism | An artistic approach that selectively borrows and combines stylistic elements from various sources and traditions. |
| formal types | Established categories or classifications of artworks defined by their structure, form, and compositional characteristics. |
| hierarchical scale | A compositional technique where the size of figures indicates their importance, with more significant figures depicted larger than others. |
| historical narratives | Visual depictions of historical events or stories told through sequential scenes or compositions in art. |
| material | The physical substances used by artists to create artworks, such as stone, bronze, or paint. |
| monumental stone architecture | Large-scale buildings and structures constructed primarily from stone, designed to endure and demonstrate power or importance. |
| pharaoh | The ruler of ancient Egypt, considered a god-king with absolute power and divine descent from the sun god. |
| portraiture | The artistic representation of individual people, typically emphasizing accurate depiction of physical features and likeness. |
| process | The methods and steps artists use to create artworks, including planning, construction, and execution techniques. |
| pylon | A massive sloped gateway structure characteristic of Egyptian temple architecture, typically flanking the entrance. |
| pyramid | Monumental Egyptian structures with a square base and triangular sides meeting at a point, built as tombs for pharaohs. |
| register | Horizontal bands or sections that divide a composition to organize narrative scenes or separate different subject matter. |
| rock-cut tombs | Burial chambers carved directly into rock formations, used in ancient Egypt as alternative monumental burial structures. |
| stylistic conventions | Established artistic practices and visual standards that represent subjects in consistent, recognizable ways within a particular culture or period. |
| technical innovation | New or improved methods and technologies developed to solve construction or artistic challenges in creating artworks. |
| technique | The specific skills and methods artists employ to manipulate materials and create desired effects in their work. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| ancient Near East | The region encompassing modern-day Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel/Palestine, and surrounding areas in antiquity, known for early civilizations and artistic developments. |
| artistic conventions | Established practices, techniques, and aesthetic standards that are widely accepted and followed within a particular artistic tradition or culture. |
| artistic innovations | New or original developments in art-making techniques, forms, or approaches that represent departures from established conventions. |
| artistic styles | Characteristic approaches to creating art that reflect particular periods, cultures, or artistic movements, often recognizable through shared techniques and aesthetic principles. |
| artistic tradition | Established practices and styles in art-making that are passed down and developed over time within a culture or region. |
| dynastic Egypt | Ancient Egypt during periods ruled by successive royal dynasties, characterized by distinctive artistic and architectural traditions. |
| eclecticism | An artistic approach that selectively borrows and combines stylistic elements from various sources and traditions. |
| exchange of ideas | The transmission and sharing of artistic concepts, techniques, and aesthetic principles between different cultures. |
| Hellenistic | The artistic and cultural period following the conquests of Alexander the Great, characterized by the spread of Greek influence across the Mediterranean and Near East. |
| historicism | An artistic practice that deliberately references, imitates, or revives styles and forms from earlier historical periods. |
| reception of artistic styles | The process by which one culture adopts, interprets, and integrates artistic styles from another culture. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| audience | The intended viewers or recipients of a work of art, whose identity and expectations influence artistic choices and meaning. |
| civic ideals | Values and principles related to citizenship, community participation, and public life that influenced the creation of ancient Greek and Roman art. |
| conspicuous display | The deliberate exhibition of wealth, power, and status through art and architecture to demonstrate authority and influence. |
| content | The subject matter, themes, and symbolic meanings represented in a work of art. |
| context | The historical, cultural, religious, and social circumstances surrounding the creation and use of a work of art. |
| divinities | Representations of gods and goddesses in ancient art and religious contexts. |
| form | The physical shape, structure, and overall visual organization of a work of art. |
| function | The practical purpose or use of a work of art within its cultural context, such as religious ritual, commemoration, or display of power. |
| funerary complexes | Architectural structures and spaces designed for burial and commemoration of the dead, including tombs and associated buildings. |
| imperial values | Principles and ideals associated with imperial rule, including centralized power and authority, expressed in Roman art and architecture. |
| ka statues | Egyptian funerary sculptures created to house the ka, or spirit, of the deceased in the afterlife. |
| material | The physical substances used by artists to create artworks, such as stone, bronze, or paint. |
| palatial complexes | Large architectural structures designed as royal residences and centers of power, reflecting the authority and wealth of rulers. |
| patron | A person or institution that commissions, funds, or supports the creation of an artwork, thereby influencing its purpose and content. |
| polytheism | The belief in and worship of multiple gods, which shaped the religious art and architecture of ancient Greece and Rome. |
| public structures | Buildings and architectural complexes designed for communal use and civic purposes, such as forums, temples, and gathering spaces. |
| purpose | The intended function or reason for which a work of art was created, such as religious worship, commemoration, or display of power. |
| republican values | Principles and ideals associated with republican government, including civic participation and shared authority, expressed in Etruscan and Roman art. |
| royal figures | Depictions of kings, queens, and other members of the ruling class in ancient art, often used to display power and authority. |
| style | The distinctive manner and characteristics of artistic expression, including techniques, materials, and visual conventions used in a work of art. |
| ziggurats | Monumental stepped temple structures built in ancient Mesopotamia that served as settings for religious worship and displayed divine and royal power. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Ancient Greek and Roman art | The artistic traditions of ancient Greece and Rome that form the foundation for later European and Mediterranean artistic development. |
| archaeological excavation | Systematic investigations of historical sites that uncover physical evidence and artifacts to inform understanding of past art and cultures. |
| archaic Greek | An early period of Ancient Greek art and culture, characterized by distinctive stylistic features, preceding the Classical period. |
| art-historical argument | A reasoned explanation or interpretation about a work or group of works of art supported by evidence and analysis. |
| cultural capitals | Major cities and centers recognized as primary sources of artistic and cultural influence and prestige. |
| Etruscan art | The artistic traditions of the Etruscan civilization in ancient Italy, primarily understood through archaeological evidence and external written sources. |
| provincial populations | Communities and subjects living outside major cultural and political centers, whose artistic production is now studied alongside elite art. |
| Roman Republic | The period of Ancient Roman history characterized by republican government, used as a chronological and political framework for organizing artworks. |
| stylistic analysis | The study of artworks based on their distinctive visual characteristics and formal qualities to identify patterns and periods. |
| theory and interpretation | Different frameworks and perspectives used to understand and explain the meaning, context, and significance of works of art that may change over time. |
| visual analysis | The systematic examination and interpretation of a work of art's formal elements, such as color, composition, form, and technique, to understand its meaning and significance. |