AP Art History : Identifying artists, works, or schools of Near Eastern sculpture

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Art History

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Example Questions

Example Question #182 : Sculpture

Who are the two people depicted in The Stele of Hammurabi?

Milkau oberer teil der stele mit dem text von hammurapis gesetzescode 369 2

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_of_Hammurabi#/media/File:Milkau_Oberer_Teil_der_Stele_mit_dem_Text_von_Hammurapis_Gesetzescode_369-2.png)

Possible Answers:

Sargon, the king, and the sun god Ashur.

Alexander the Great, and the sun god Trajan.

Tutankhamen, the king, and the sun god Amun-Ra.

Hammurabi, the king, and the sun god Shamash.

Shamash, the king, and the sun god Hammurabi.

Correct answer:

Hammurabi, the king, and the sun god Shamash.

Explanation:

Depicted in this stele are the king, Hammurabi, and the sun god, Shamash.  Shamash is shown here delivering the text of the message on the stele to Hammurabi.

Example Question #1 : Near Eastern Sculpture

What culture was The Stele of Hammurabi associated with?

Milkau oberer teil der stele mit dem text von hammurapis gesetzescode 369 2

Possible Answers:

Persians

Assyrians

Babylonians

Aztecs

Egyptians

Correct answer:

Babylonians

Explanation:

The Stele of Hammurabi is associated with the Babylonians, and dates back to 1792-1750 BCE.

Image is in the public domain, accessed through Wikipedia Media Commons: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_of_Hammurabi#/media/File:Milkau_Oberer_Teil_der_Stele_mit_dem_Text_von_Hammurapis_Gesetzescode_369-2.png

Example Question #31 : Sculpture Beyond European Artistic Traditions

What is this object called?

Milkau oberer teil der stele mit dem text von hammurapis gesetzescode 369 2

Possible Answers:

A ziggurat

Cuneiform writing

A stele

A cella

An apadana

Correct answer:

A stele

Explanation:

This is a stele, or a stone slab used as a site marker. This particular one (The Stele of Hammurabi) was put in a centralized meeting spot in town so that all could read its message.

Image in the public domain, accessed through Wikipedia Media Commons: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_of_Hammurabi#/media/File:Milkau_Oberer_Teil_der_Stele_mit_dem_Text_von_Hammurapis_Gesetzescode_369-2.png

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