CHAPTER 4—THE PREHISTORIC AEGEAN
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The Treasury of Atreus is an excellent example of a(n):
a.
Mycenaean fortification
b.
tholos tomb
c.
Minoan sarcophagus
d.
temple treasury
2. Minoan columns are distinguished by:
a.
tapering shape and bulbous capitals
b.
pronounced swelling in the center
c.
bud-shaped capitals
d.
bull-shaped capitals
3. Significant numbers of small marble figurines representing naked women with arms folded over
abdomens have been found in:
a.
Mycenae
b.
the Cyclades Islands
c.
Troy
d.
Knossos
4. Which of the following is a palace on Crete?
a.
Knossos
b.
Troy
c.
Tiryns
d.
Sparta
5. Tiryns was:
a.
a fortified citadel
b.
an Egyptian outpost
c.
a market
d.
a shrine to the Minoan goddess
6. The Lion Gate is the gateway to:
a.
Tiryns
b.
Knossos
c.
Mallia
d.
Mycenae
7. The Kamares style of Minoan pottery exhibited:
a.
sophisticated shapes and monochromatic style
b.
naive shapes and polychromatic style
c.
sophisticated shapes and polychromatic style
d.
naive shapes and monochromatic style
8. Who or what was the Minotaur?
a.
the king of Crete
b.
half bull, half man
c.
a bull with eagle’s wings
d.
Achilles’ pet
9. Minoans coated the rough surface of their rubble walls with a fine white lime plaster that required
rapid execution and great skill. Which painting method was used with this type of fabrication?
a.
watercolor
b.
fresco secco
c.
true fresco
d.
tempera
10. Landscape with Swallows (Spring fresco) is the first pure landscape. Which of the following best
defines landscape?
a.
It has no humans and a narrative element.
b.
It has a narrative element.
c.
It has no humans and no narrative element.
d.
It has no humans.
11. Which one of the following works of art provides information about the Minoan religion?
a.
Hagia Triada sarcophagus
b.
Spring fresco, Thera
c.
La Parisienne fresco, Knossos
d.
Octopus Jar, Palaikastro
12. What led the German amateur archaeologist, Heinrich Schliemann, to uncover Troy?
a.
Homer’s Tale of the Gods
b.
Homer’s Iliad
c.
Agamemnon’s Story of Helen
d.
Minos’s Tale of the Minotaur
13. It has been suggested that Cycladic figurines were funerary offerings. Based on their schematized
representation and size, how might they have been placed in the graves?
a.
standing by the sarcophagus
b.
standing in the grave
c.
placed on their backs
d.
suspended from the sarcophagus
14. Cycladic figurines having the same form took on different meanings in different contexts. What
accounts for this?
a.
found in both cemeteries and settlements
b.
found in royal houses and royal cemeteries
c.
specific figurines were buried in urns
d.
only those standing figurines had a different identity
15. The Old Palace Period in Minoan art came to an end around 1700 BCE. What was the probable cause?
a.
invasion by the Egyptians
b.
invasion by the Mycenaeans
c.
tidal wave
d.
earthquake
16. Which of the following elements showed that the new palace at Knossos was carefully planned?
a.
thick walls composed of cement
b.
little attention paid to rainwater drainage
c.
single story building rambled across the landscape
d.
placement of clusters of rooms of similar function around the central court
17. The funerary practice of the Mycenaeans, covering the faces of the dead with gold masks, recalls what
other culture?
a.
Egyptians
b.
Cycladic peoples
c.
Minoans
d.
Greeks
18. During the Mycenaean Period large-scale figural art on the Greek mainland was ____.
a.
very abundant
b.
found only in temples
c.
very rare
d.
found only in palaces
19. What form of arch is above the lintel of the Lion Gate?
a.
barrel arch
b.
corbelled arch
c.
triangular arch
d.
pointed arch
20. The guardian figure design of the Lion Gate can also be found in miniature on ____.
a.
Cretan seals
b.
Mycenaean vases
c.
Mycenaean dagger blades
d.
Cretan vases
21. The use of guardian figures on the Lion Gate is reminiscent of ____.
a.
The palace of Gudea
b.
Minoan palaces
c.
Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt
d.
Mycenaean tombs
22. It is said the Warrior Vase is a simplified narrative with a repetitious pattern, a far cry from the variety
and anecdotal details evident in earlier works. Which of the following would be an example of an
earlier work?
a.
Harvester Vase
b.
Octopus Vase
c.
Kamares Ware Jar
d.
Fleet Vase
23. What was the subject matter seen on the largest dagger found in the tomb from Grave Circle A—an
image that was borrowed from the ancient Near East?
a.
king riding in a chariot
b.
king killing enemies
c.
hunters attacking lions
d.
king making a libation
SLIDE IDENTIFICATION
Select the response that identifies or corresponds best to the image on the screen.
24. (Figure 4-12)
a.
Cycladic
b.
Minoan
c.
Assyrian
d.
Mycenaean
25. (Figure 4-15)
a.
citadel
b.
megaron
c.
Kamares
d.
dromos
26. (Figure 4-3)
a.
Minoan
b.
Egyptian
c.
Helladic
d.
Cycladic
27. (Figure 4-5)
a.
Phaistos
b.
Knossos
c.
Tiryns
d.
Mycenae
28. (Figure 4-8)
a.
chalk
b.
oil
c.
fresco secco
d.
true fresco
29. (Figure 4-16)
a.
Mycenae
b.
Knossos
c.
Tiryns
d.
Akrotiri
30. (Figure 4-25)
a.
sphinx
b.
minotaur
c.
siren
d.
Helen of Troy
31. (Figure 4-18)
a.
Knossos
b.
Mycenae
c.
Pylos
d.
Tiryns
32. (Figure 4-22)
a.
repoussé
b.
niello
c.
earthenware
d.
faience
33. (Figure 4-26)
a.
Minoan
b.
Mycenaean
c.
Cycladic
d.
Egyptian
34. (Figure 4-13)
a.
Young Fisherman
b.
King Minos
c.
Young god
d.
King Agamemnon
35. (Figure 4-11)
a.
Cycladic
b.
Minoan
c.
Mycenaean
d.
Egyptian
36. (Figure 4-23)
a.
repoussé
b.
faience
c.
Kamares Ware
d.
niello
37. (Figure 4-9)
a.
Akrotiri
b.
Mycenae
c.
Knossos
d.
Hagia Triada
38. (Figure 4-9A)
a.
painted limestone
b.
encaustic on wood
c.
fresco
d.
tempera on wood
39. (Figure 4-24)
a.
Delos
b.
Mycenae
c.
Athens
d.
Delphi
40. (Figure 4-23A)
a.
Hunter capturing a bull
b.
Two goddesses and a child
c.
Crocus gatherers
d.
Flotilla
41. (Figure 4-9A)
a.
Knossos
b.
Mycenae
c.
Minoan
d.
Cyclades
42. (Figure 4-1)
a.
fireplace
b.
sarcophagus
c.
throne
d.
stove
SLIDE QUESTIONS
43. Kamares Ware Jar (Figure 4-10) and the Warrior Vase (Figure 4-26).
a.
repeated curvilinear and simplified patterns
b.
both works are Mycenaean
c.
both works are Minoan
d.
repeated curvilinear patterns
44. Palace at Knossos (Figure 4-4) and Palace of Sargon II (Figure 2-20A)
a.
both palaces show the influence of New Kingdom Egypt
b.
both palaces show the influence of Mycenae
c.
each palace demonstrates the political and military strengths of its respective culture
d.
only the Palace at Knossos shows its clear religious commitment
45. Kamares Ware Jar (Figure 4-10) and Octopus Jar (Figure 4-11)
a.
both works are from the Cyclades
b.
both works show the abstracted restricted design of the Minoans
c.
both works are from Mycenae
d.
both works demonstrate a fully realized relationship of a vessel’s decoration to its shape
46. Harvester Vase (Figure 4-14) and Warrior Vase (Figure 4-26)
a.
only the Harvester Vase shows the energy of individually characterized figures
b.
both works show the energy of individually characterized figures
c.
both works show the same static pattern
d.
only the Warrior Vase shows the energy of individually characterized figures
47. La Parisienne, Knossos (Figure 4-7) and Bull-leaping, Knossos (Figure 4-8)
a.
both works demonstrate fresco secco technique
b.
both works demonstrate static, patterned repetition
c.
both works show Mycenaean influences
d.
both works show rapid execution, quick, light, delicate brushwork
48. Death Mask Tutankhamen (Figure 3-35) and Funerary Mask (figure 4-22)
a.
both works show the influence of the Minoans
b.
both works show a similarity in funerary practices
c.
only the Funerary Mask (Figure 4-23) was found in a tomb
d.
only the Death Mask of Tutankhamen was excavated by Schliemann
49. Lion Gate, Boghazköy (Figure 2-18A) and Lion Gate, Mycenae (Figure 4-19)
a.
both works represent guardian beasts
b.
both works represent royal portraits
c.
both works symbolize the deity
d.
both works represent a rich trading tradition with Africa
50. Lyre Player (Figure 4-3) and Bull-leaping, Knossos (figure 4-8)
a.
both works represent funerary offerings
b.
both works incorporate sweeping, curving line
c.
both works are Minoan
d.
both works demonstrate New Kingdom Egypt influences
SHORT ANSWER
1. What features of the architecture of the Palace at Knossos are thought to have given rise to the Greek
myth of the labyrinth?
2. When was the potter’s wheel introduced, and how did it influence the shape of pottery?
3. Evaluate the importance of “context” in archaeology and art history.
4. What is the Iliad, and how did it impact the art history of the Aegean?
5. Define labrys and its importance in Minoan architecture.
6. What speaks for identifying the Minoan Snake Goddess as either a deity or a priestess?
7. What ancient painting convention was followed to distinguish men from women?
8. How do the frescoes found on the island of Santorini (ancient Thera) shape our understanding of
Minoan fresco painting?
9. What impact did the volcanic eruption on the island of Santorini (ancient Thera) have on the
chronology of Minoan art works?
10. Describe the palaces that were rebuilt during the Minoan New Palace Period.
11. Explain the uniqueness of the Harvester Vase.
12. Who was Sir Arthur Evans?
13. Who was Frank Calvert?
14. Evaluate the difference between Minoan palace frescoes and the Hagia Triada sarcophagus.
15. Describe the differences between Minoan and Mycenaean palace architecture.
16. Describe the megaron and its importance in Mycenaean architecture.
ESSAY
1. Evaluate and describe the architectural differences between the Citadel of Tiryns and the Palace at
Knossos. What geographic and historical factors may account for these differences? Consider the
societal components as well in your essay.
2. Evaluate the impact the art market had on the archaeology of Cycladic figural sculpture. Consider the
relationship between archaeology and art history. How did these relationships affect scholarship in the
Cyclades?
3. Develop an argument for the demise of the Minoan civilization. How does the evidence support your
argument? Why is this significant?
4. Evaluate the differences between Minoan fresco painting and Egyptian frescoes of the New Kingdom.
Discuss both stylistic features and where and why they were painted. Why are these differences
significant?
5. Evaluate Heinrich Schliemann’s work. What did he find? What sources did he use to make his
archeological discoveries? Why is this significant to art history?
6. Construct an argument concerning the significance of Minoan ceramic shape, design, and decorative
elements. What relationship did these design elements have with other media? Use examples to
support your essay.
7. Compare and contrast Cycladic sculpture and Minoan sculpture. Consider context and society when
relevant. Use examples to support your essay.
8. Evaluate the development of Mycenaean architecture. Use examples to support your essay
9. Compare and contrast the figural sculpture of the Cyclades, Minoans, and Mycenaeans. Include in
your essay social, religious and historical implications. Use examples to support your essay.
10. Describe the technique used to create the Young god and its possible function.
OTHER
SLIDE QUESTIONS
1. Despite being found in Mycenae, how does this work relate to the Minoan culture?
2. What does this reconstruction reveal to us about the colorful and lavish palace design?
3. How is this work similar in style to Minoan palace frescoes?