AP Art History Unit 7 West and Central Asia

AP Art History Course Study Guide Unit 7: West and Central Asia 181. Petra, Jordan: Treasury and Great Temple. (Nabataean Ptolemaic and Roman. c. 400 B.C.E.–100 C.E. Cut rock) a. Context: i. believe that the tombs were probably constructed when the Nabateans were wealthiest between the second century B.C.E. and the early second century C.E. b. Content: i. Their architecture reflects the diverse and different cultures with which the Nabateans traded, interacted ii. Many of the tombs contain niches or small chambers for burials, cut into the stone walls 1. No human remains have ever been found in any of the tombs, and the exact funerary practices of the Nabataeans remain unknown iii. The treasury was exceptional for its figurative detail and ornate Hellenistic architectural orders c. Form: i. The entire city has been carved into the rock face 1. The ability of ancient people to carve such a large building still confounds modern engineers ii. The Treasury’s façade is 24.9 x 38.77 high iii. The style most clearly embodies the Hellenistic style and reflects the influence of Alexandria, the greatest city in the Eastern Mediterranean at this time. iv. Its architecture features a broken pediment and central circular building on the upper level 1. This architectural element originated in Alexandria. v. Ornate Corinthian columns are used throughout vi. Above the broken pediments, the bases of two obelisks appear and stretch upwards into the rock AP Art History Course Study Guide d. Function: i. Functioning city that had all the necessary facilities to be one 182. Buddha. (Bamiyan, Afghanistan. Gandharan. c. 400–800 C.E. (destroyed in 2001). Cut rock with plaster and polychrome paint) a. Context: i. Bamiyan Valley in Afghanistan was a stop on the Silk Route: along with fertile land, ideal location for merchants and missionaries to stop ii. plurality and lax nature of buddhist worship created pretext for buddhist cave architecture : 1000 buddhist caves along 1300 meters of cliff face in Bamiyan iii. destroyed in 2001: taliban's iconoclastic campaign, backlash to western interest and funding for maintenance, falsely claimed as an islamic act; Bamiyan was muslim by 10th century yet maintained statues iv. only niches and faint outlines remain b. Content: i. 2 monumental figures carved into the cliff face facing the valley 1. western buddha (Buddha Vairochana) stood 175 ft tall 2. eastern buddha (Buddha Shakyamuni) stood 120 ft tall ii. described by writings of Chinese monk as covered in metal and other semi-precious decorative materials iii. statues wore wooden masks covered in brass featuring facial features iv. pigments were applied to the stucco c. Form: i. High Relief Sculpture ii. Carved into cliff face but feet and head in the round iii. Circumambulation d. Function: i. For worshippers to circulate 183. The Kaaba. (Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Islamic. Pre-Islamic monument; rededicated by Muhammad in 631–632 C.E.; multiple renovations. Granite masonry, covered with silk curtain and calligraphy in gold and silver-wrapped thread) a. Context: i. It is believed that the Kaaba is created by Abraham and his son Ismail ii. Symbolic of the journey and triumph of Muhammed 1. He was driven our of Mecca but upon his return he wiped the Kaaba of idols and returning it to a shrine dedicated to Ibrahim and the Muslim faith iii. The stone is thought to have been given to Ibrahim by the Angel Gabriel b. Content: i. interior of the Kaaba is fitted with a marble and limestone floor. AP Art History Course Study Guide ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii. This black brocade cloth that is hung around the Kabba is known as the Kiswah. 1. The Kiswah is elegant and coated in elegantly done Calligraphy. The Calligraphy is of important verses “ayats” from the Quran. Intense modifications have been done to the Kaaba 1. The area around it is has been expanded multiple times to compensate for the growing amounts of people participating in the pilgrimage 2. This was done by the second caliph ‘Umar (ruled from 634-44) In 683 CE the Kaaba was set on fire during a civil war It broke apart and was reconstructed by Ibn Zubayr 1. He used wood and stone and followed the original dimensions Umayyad caliph al-Walid ruled from 705-15 CE ornately decorated the Grand Mosque, that surrounds the Kaaba, with mosaics that surrounds the Kaaba. c. Form: i. The medium is black granite masonry ii. It is about 13 meters high and the sides are 11 meters long d. Function: i. Every Muslim faces the direction of the Kaaba and Mecca when they are praying and they pray five times a day. ii. establishes the universal direction of prayer for all Muslims. iii. It is also the location where the Muslim population takes a very important religious pilgrimage. Hundreds of Thousands of Muslims travel to Mecca and circumvent the Kaaba five times. iv. Most Muslims hope they can take this pilgrimage once in their lives and it is one of the five pillars of Islam. 184. Jowo Rinpoche, enshrined in the Jokhang Temple. Lhasa, Tibet. (Yarlung Dynasty. Believed to have been brought to Tibet in 641 C.E. Gilt metals with semiprecious stones, pearls, and paint; various offerings) a. Context: i. Buddha Shakyamuni aka Siddhartha Guatama ii. The sculpture has undergo restoration/reconstruction b. Content: i. Rinpoche=”Precious One” in Tibetan ii. Housed in the Jokhang temple in Lhasa tibet iii. Seated against a resplendent gold and jeweled throne and with his legs in the lotus position or padmasana iv. Left hand is in mudra of meditation v. His right hand is the gesture of calling the earth to witness AP Art History Course Study Guide vi. Signifies Buddha’s enlightenment c. Form: i. Statue is made of gilt metal ii. The effect is an image of gold hue with blue hair d. Function: i. Cultural significance ii. To act as the Buddha’s proxy after his parinirvana or departure from the world iii. Believed that Yarlung brought it to tibet as part of her marriage 185. Dome of the Rock. (Jerusalem. Islamic, Umayyad. 691–692 C.E., with multiple renovations. Stone masonry and wooden roof decorated with glazed ceramic tile, mosaics, and gilt aluminum and bronze dome) a. Context: i. A part of the ismalic religion ii. Significant to the three of the albrahamic faiths 1. The talmud 2. The bible 3. The Quran iii. Dispute over the 3 religions about this structure iv. Modified several times the Ottoman sultan b. Content i. Dome on a rock ii. Has 2 ambulatories iii. An octagonal exterior wall iv. Arabic scripture c. Form i. Stone masonry ii. Wooden roof iii. Glazed ceramic tile iv. Mosaic v. Gilt aluminum vi. Bronze dome d. Function i. Religious associations 186. Great Mosque (Masjid-e Jameh). (Isfahan, Iran. Islamic, Persian: Seljuk, IlKhanid, Timurid and Safavid Dynasties. c. 700 C.E.; additions and restorations in the 14th, 18th, and 20th centuries C.E. Stone, brick, wood, plaster, and glazed ceramic tile) a. Context: AP Art History Course Study Guide i. The mosque visually embodies the visual tastes and political dynasties of the Persian empire ii. Nizam al-Mulk commissioned the dome in 1086 iii. It has urbanized over time in order to accommodate the growing populous b. Content: i. Calligraphy covers the arches and walls ii. Has towering minarets for the call for prayer iii. Hypostyle hall and vaults (some ribbed to bring in light and ventilation) iv. The undersides are carved with intricate geometric designs v. Bricks and stucco motifs and tilework along with calligraphy vi. Isfhans’s covered bazaar connects to the mosque c. Form: i. Made up of a large central courtyard surrounded by two story arcade ii. Brick piers and columns which support the roof system iii. The mosque is a four iwan design iv. Inscriptions on the walls v. Centrally planned vi. Makes use of gold and blue d. Function: i. To bring people to prayer away from busy streets ii. Unite the community iii. The location makes it the center gathering and transportation iv. Commercial activity 187. Folio from a Qur’an. (Arab, North Africa, or Near East. Abbasid. c. eighth to ninth century C.E. Ink, color, and gold on parchment) a. Context: i. Huge part of daily Muslim’s lives ii. Very high value and prosperity in Islam iii. It was a luxury have such a fine inscripted object iv. The scribes illustrated them were highly valued in the community b. Content: i. Human and animal form depictions wee considered inappropriate on sacred objects and motifs AP Art History Course Study Guide ii. iii. The Qur’an consists of the divine revelation to the Prophet Muhammad in Arabic The words on the Qur’an translate as rays of light for the people who read and recite the recitations Piece from “The Spider” a text in the Qur’an c. Form: i. It is part of the Qur’an which is the sacred text of Islam ii. The Qur’an is written on parchment in blank ink with a broad-nibbed reed pen iii. Kufic is the type of calligraphy used in the manuscript iv. The Qur’an is read from left to right d. Function: i. Used for sacred rituals and recitations ii. Heavily decorated for ceremonial purposes iii. The Qu’ran is the central part of Islam and the Islamic faith revolves around this book 188. Basin (Baptistère de St. Louis). (Muhammad ibn al-Zain. c. 1320–1340 C.E. Brass inlaid with gold and silver) a. Context i. Muhammad ibn al-zain was either egypatian or syrian ii. Bowls used at religious ceremonies b. Content i. Shows people hunting ii. Battle scenes iii. Maluk hunters verus Mongol enemies iv. Shows the conflict of the two groups v. Decorated with fish,eels, crab, frogs and crocodiles c. Form i. Brass inlaid with gold and silver ( difficult task) ii. Very expensive materials at the time d. Functions i. Was to wash or purify themselves for the ceremony ii. Later was used for royal baptisms AP Art History Course Study Guide 189. Bahram Gur Fights the Karg, folio from the Great Il-Khanid Shahnama. (Islamic; Persian, IlKhanid. c. 1330–1340 C.E. Ink and opaque watercolor, gold, and silver on paper) a. Context i. Part of the translated book of kings Shahnama, b. Content i. Represents the ideal king ii. Shows mix of chinese and european influences iii. Bahram wears a crown and halo( is the ancient Iranian king of the Sassanian Dynasty) iv. European fabric for the clothes c. Form i. Had calligraphy ii. Overlapping planes iii. Illuminated manuscript iv. Flat colorscript is continuous d. Function i. Recounts the tale of Bahram Gur 190. The Court of Gayumars, folio from Shah Tahmasp’s Shahnama. (Sultan Muhammad. c. 1522–1525 C.E. Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper) a. Context i. An angel tells Gayumars that his son will be killed by the Black Div ( the demon, Ahirman) ii. A part of the translated book of kings Shahnama, b. Content i. Depicts the king Gayumars enthroned in front of his new kingdom ii. The left is his son Siyamaki iii. To the right is his grandson Hishang iv. In a semicircle his court appears before him v. They are all wearing court attire( leopard skin c. Form i. Ink, watercolor and gold on paper d. Function i. To depict the enthroned king Gayumars ii. Depicts the harmony between man and nature 191. The Ardabil Carpet. (Maqsud of Kashan. 1539–1540 C.E. Silk and wool) a. Context i. Named after town of Ardabil in North iran ii. Home to the shrine of Sufi Saint, Safi-al Din Ardabili AP Art History Course Study Guide iii. Followers grew after his death iv. Highly prized in Iran v. b. Content i. Prayer carpet ii. Medallion in the center iii. Mosque lamps hanging from both sides iv. corner squishies have pendants v. Borde- rectangle spaces for calligraphy vi. Wool carpet vii. Four line inscriptions viii. A short poem ix. Masquad - court official in charge with making the prayer mats c. Form i. Wool and silk ii. Natural dyes( pomegranate and indigo) d. Function i. For prayer