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 #1 : Identifying Artists, Works, Or Schools Of Near Eastern 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:

Shamash, the king, and the sun god Hammurabi.

Alexander the Great, and the sun god Trajan.

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

Sargon, the king, and the sun god Ashur.

Hammurabi, the king, and the sun god Shamash.

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 #183 : 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:

Aztecs

Babylonians

Egyptians

Persians

Assyrians

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 #3 : Near Eastern Sculpture

What is this object called?

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

Possible Answers:

A stele

A ziggurat

Cuneiform writing

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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