All AP Art History Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #771 : Ap Art History
The deity pictured in the work shown here is _________________.
Parvati
Shiva
Vishnu
Ganesha
Shiva
This Hindu deity is in the classic “cosmic dancer” pose, known as “Nataraja” in Tamil, taken by the god Shiva as he performs a dance to destroy the universe in preparation of creation by Brahma. The four arms depicted in the statue are a typical attribute of Shiva, as is the general pose taken in this work. This copper statuette was created in the time of the Chola dynasty in Southern India during the 10th century, which saw a devotion to Shiva predominate.
Image is in the public domain accessed through Wikipedia Media Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shiva_as_the_Lord_of_Dance_LACMA_edit.jpg
Example Question #2 : Asian Sculpture
In Buddhist statuary, the lotus position depicts the Buddha __________.
standing on one leg
blessing followers
praying with a bowed head
sitting cross-legged
sitting cross-legged
Buddhism spread across Asia from the beginning of the first century CE to 500 CE; this resulted in the creation of a vast array of Buddhist art in a variety of countries. This art still had some unified themes, particularly in depictions of the Buddha, which could demonstrate important points to new believers. This includes the Buddha sitting in the lotus position, a cross-legged pose that is the chief position for Buddhist meditation and contemplative practices.
Example Question #772 : Ap Art History
In Hindu sculpture, a vahana refers to a deity's __________.
animal mount
theological attributes
spouse
clothing
animal mount
In Hindu mythology, every deity has a vahana, or animal mount. This has a number of purposes, ranging from highlighting certain attributes of a deity to creating different kinds of symbology from a plain depiction of the deity. Notable vahanas include Vishnu's eagle, Ganesha's mouse, and Laksmi's elephant.
Example Question #1 : Answering Other Questions About Asian Sculpture
The physical layout of site encourages which of the following?
Axial progression
Prostration
Corporate worship
Circumambulation
Bhakti
Circumambulation
The circular plan of the stupa encourages adherents to walk around the sacred object in the middle, a movement otherwise known as circumambulation.
Image: Great Stupa at Sanchi commissioned by Emperor Ashoka, c. 300 BCE–100 CE. From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanchi#/media/File:Sanchi_Stupa_from_Eastern_gate,_Madhya_Pradesh.jpg.
Example Question #771 : Ap Art History
This image shows which of the following?
A funerary monument honoring the emperor
An imperial pleasure palace
A religious structure that protects relics
A monastery that houses monks
A covered bathing complex
A religious structure that protects relics
Commissioned by the emperor Ashoka during the 3rd century BCE, the Great Stupa at Sanchi was constructed to house the relics of the Buddha and is the oldest known stone structure in India.
Image: Great Stupa at Sanchi commissioned by Emperor Ashoka, c. 300 BCE–100 CE. From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanchi#/media/File:Sanchi_Stupa_from_Eastern_gate,_Madhya_Pradesh.jpg.
Example Question #771 : Ap Art History
A stupa is meant to represent __________________.
Fertility
Buddha's entire body
King Ashoka
None of these
Nataraja
Buddha's entire body
Stupas were built to represent Buddha's body. The top of the stupa was his head, the middle was his body, and the bottom was his crossed legs.
Example Question #1 : Answering Other Questions About Asian Sculpture
What do Buddhist practitioners do at a stupa?
Circumambulate the stupa while focusing on the teachings of Buddha
None of these
Sit inside the stupa and meditate on the teachings of Buddha
Perform cleansing rituals in front of the stupa
Sit in front of the stupa and meditate
Circumambulate the stupa while focusing on the teachings of Buddha
The stupa is a solid object. Therefore it cannot be entered. Practitioners were meant to walk around the stupa, which is also known as circumambulation. This was meant to be a meditative walk that could allow the practitioner to think about the teachings of Buddha.
Example Question #1 : Answering Other Questions About Asian Sculpture
For what were The David Vases made?
A Doaist temple
A Yuan Dynasty Emperor
None of these
A Buddhist Temple
An English nobleman
A Doaist temple
The David Vases were made for a Doaist temple alter. One of the most important parts of the vases are a dated inscription.
Example Question #181 : Sculpture
The work shown here was created with the intention of __________________.
honoring an important ruler
illustrating a story from history
challenging the conventional culture
being utilized in religious ceremonies
being utilized in religious ceremonies
This statue of Shiva was created under the Chola dynasty of southern India in the 10th century, a time and place in which the worship of Shiva was preeminent. Such a statue would have been used in religious ceremonies, particularly as the beliefs of the time held such gods as fully present in believers’ like not dissimilar from the ceremonial role of a monarch.
Image is in the public domain accessed through Wikipedia Media Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shiva_as_the_Lord_of_Dance_LACMA_edit.jpg
Example Question #1 : Answering Other Questions About Asian Sculpture
Image by Arian Zwegers from Brussels, Belgium (Sanchi, Stupa 1, western gateway) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons. <https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/Sanchi%2C_Stupa_1%2C_western_gateway_%289839922393%29.jpg>.
The Great Stupa at Sanchi is _________________.
a monastery that houses monks
an imperial pleasure palace
a covered bathing complex
a religious structure that protects relics
a funerary monument honoring the emperor
a religious structure that protects relics
Commissioned by the emperor Ashoka during the 3rd century BCE, the Great Stupa at Sanchi was constructed to house the relics of the Buddha and is the oldest known stone structure in India.
Image by Arian Zwegers from Brussels, Belgium (Sanchi, Stupa 1, western gateway) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons. <https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/Sanchi%2C_Stupa_1%2C_western_gateway_%289839922393%29.jpg>.
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