AP Art History - Prehistoric and Ancient Mediterranean Vocab

Used by Greek Archaic sculptors, especially in the second quarter of the 6th century BCE, possibly to suggest that their subject was alive, and infused with a sense of well-being.

A human figure standing with most of its weight on one foot, so that its shoulders and arms twist off-axis from the hips and legs in the axial plane.

A period in human prehistory characterized by the beginning of a settled human lifestyle, works usually have human figures, usually in the form of statues, tools, paintings, and architecture.

A period in human prehistory characterized by the original development of stone tools, works are usually: small sculptures, monumental paintings, incised designs, and reliefs on the walls of caves.

Sculptural relief that projects very little from the background.

Sculptural relief technique in which figures or images are carved in low relief, but set within a sunken area, so that the relief never rises beyond the original flat surface

Sculptures that stand out from the flat surface, sometimes to a great degree

Style of art where the works are created as close to reality as possible.

Simplified or exaggerated style that emphasizes particular or contrived design qualities.

The wide-scale transition of many human cultures during the Neolithic period in Afro-Eurasia from a lifestyle of hunting and gathering to one of agriculture and settlement, making an increasingly large population possible.

The place of origin or earliest known history of something.

A culture that flourished in the Valley of Mexico between the years 1250 BCE and 800 BCE. Before the Aztec cultures.

A roof which is supported by columns.

A culture with art known for highly stylized forms and figures, often featuring elongated bodies and exaggerated features

A horizontal level in a work that consists of several levels arranged one above the other, especially where the levels are clearly separated by lines

From 2700–2200 BCE. Covers 4th-8th dynasties. Known for polytheism and construction of the pyramids.

A sculpture with two forms

From 1570-1069 BCE. Covers 18th-20th dynasties. Known for monumental architecture and statues honoring gods and pharaohs.

Culture known for having more rights for women and a ‘party attitude.’ Influenced the Romans.

The vessel is coated with black and the figures are left open, showing the red background of the vessel for the figures.

The vessel is left alone and the figures are painted with black

A dining table with three couches used in Etruscan and Ancient Roman culture

A line representing the ground level on which figures appear to stand

A technique used to depict relative importance in artworks by the size of the figures