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Multiple Choice
1. The Greeks called __________ the “land between the rivers.”
A. Mesopotamia
B. Mesoaqua
C. Sumeria
D. Babylon
Answer: A
Page reference: 28
2. The Sumerians invented the first system of writing called ______________.
A. pictographs
B. hieroglyphics
C. cuneiform
D. inlay
Answer: C
Page reference: 28
3. In the Stele of Naram-Sin (Fig. 2-1), what artistic device is used to signal Naram-Sin’s
importance and reinforce his divine right to rule?
A. Relative perspective
B. Hierarchic scale
C. Registers
D. Silhouetting
Answer: B
Page reference: 27
4. Ziggurats functioned symbolically as _______________.
A. heavenly palaces
B. bridges between earth and the heavens
C. fortresses of the gods
D. the home of the gods
Answer: B
Page reference: 28
5. The most complete version found of the Epic of Gilgamesh was written in
__________.
A. Sumerian
B. Akkadian
C. Babylonian
D. Mesopotamian
Answer: B
Page reference: 28
6. The most impressive surviving archeological remains of the Sumerians is the
__________.
A. pyramid
B. palace
C. ziggurat
D. grid
Answer: C
Page reference: 28
7. Sumerian votive figures were dedicated to the __________.
A. people
B. king
C. gods
D. priests
Answer: C
Page reference: 31
8. Sumerians used hard, rock __________ for identifying documents and establishing
property ownership.
A. stele stones
B. crenellated forms
C. cylinder seals
D. lamassus seals
Answer: C
Page reference: 34
9. The image of Gudea, the ruler of Lagash, is well known to students of Near Eastern
art because of the twenty surviving ____________________that he commissioned.
A. steles
B. relief panels
C. votive statues
D. palaces
Answer: C
Page reference: 37
10. Mesopotamian sculptors told stories clearly and economically by organizing visual
narratives in horizontal bands called________________.
A. registers
B. hierarchic scales
C. grids
D. steles
Answer: A
Page reference: 30
11. By the end of the ninth century BCE, the __________ culture controlled most of
Mesopotamia.
A. Assyrian
B. Persian
C. Hittite
D. Babylonian
Answer: A
Page reference: 38
12. Which of the following was NOT a convention for representing figures in Sumerian
art?
A. wide, staring eyes
B. stylized bodies and faces
C. emphasis on cubic forms
D. inlaid details of shell and stone
Answer: C.
Page reference: 31
13. At the top of the Anu ziggurat White Temple was ____________.
A. decorated with scenes of military victories
B. a living quarters for priests
C. filled with giant columns
D. a simple rectangle with an off-center doorway
Answer: D
Page reference: 28
14. The Stele of Hammurabi is significant as both a work of ancient Mesopotamian art
and as __________.
A. an example of Babylonian literature
B. a religious artifact recording Hebrew tradition
C. Danube a key to deciphering cuneiform texts
D. an historical document recording a written code of law
Answer: D
Page reference: 39
15. The notched walls built as part of military defenses are called __________.
A. grids
B. registers
C. crenellations
D. ziggurats
Answer: C
Page reference: 44
16. At Kalhu, low relief scenes of _______________ covered the walls.
A. war campaigns and lion hunts
B. abstract, geometric motifs
C. bulls and the god Marduk
D. judgments and punishments
Answer: A
Page reference: 40
17. Guardian figures, called lamassus, combined features from all of the following
EXCEPT ____________.
A. a man
B. a god
C. an eagle
D. a horse
Answer: D
Page reference: 42
18. Which of the following objects conveys both political and religious meaning?
A. Stele of Naram-Sin (Fig. 2-1)
B. Votive Statue of Gudea (Fig. 2-14)
C. Nanna Ziggurat (Fig. 2-13)
D. All of the above
Answer: D
Page references: 27, 36, 37, and 38
19. Inlaid images on the sound box of the Great Lyre with Bull’s Head creates an
intriguing relationship to _________.
A. the Epic of Gilgamesh
B. royal cemetery at Ur
C. marriage
D. military conquest
Answer: A
Page reference: 32-33
20. The uppermost scene of the Carved Vessel (Fig. 2-4) from Uruk may represent
____________ between the goddess and her consort.
A. the violation of her tempe precinct
B. a group burial
C. a reenactment of ritual marriage
D. the signing of a peace treaty
Answer: C
Page reference: 30-31
21. What original elements have been lost from the Warka Head (Fig. 2-3)?
A. the painted marble body
B. a gold wig
C. inlaid emerald eyes
D. all of the above
Answer: D
Page reference: 30
22. Which of the following materials was NOT used in the Great Lyre with Bull’s Head
(Fig. 2-7)?
A. alabaster
B. shell
C. lapis lazuli
D. wood
Answer: A
Page references: 33
23. Stepped structures known as ziggurats may have developed from the practice of
___________________.
A. using prisoners as a work force
B. repeated rebuilding at sacred sites
C. establishing settlements on high land for safety
D. burying the dead in pyramids
Answer: B
Page reference: 28
24. _____________ were huge stepped structures surmounted by a shrine or temple.
A. Stele
B. Ziggurats
C. Apadanas
D. Citadels
Answer: B
Page reference: 28
25. The incised design on a cylinder seal found in the tomb of Queen Paubi (Fig. 2-10)
demonstrates the Sumerian’s use of ___________.
A. narrative images
B. geometric patterns
C. elaborate personal monograms
D. cuneiform
Answer: A
Page reference: 35-36
26. In the many votive statues commissioned by Gudea, he is represented as
____________________.
A. a strong and pious ruler
B. a powerful military leader
C. an idealized divine figure
D. a prosperous and generous businessman
Answer: A
Page reference: 37
27. ______________ decorated the Hittite gates at Hattusha.
A. Bears
B. Lions
C. Horses
D. Elephants
Answer: B
Page reference: 38
28. What subject was NOT depicted in the relief panels decorating Assurbanipal’s
palace at Nineveh?
A. scenes of court life
B. battle scenes
C. hunting scenes
D. scenes from the Epic of Gilgamesh
Answer: D
Page reference: 43
29. The lion hunting scene of Assurnasirpal II marks a shift in Mesopotamian art from a
sense of timelessness toward greater _________.
A. political content
B. emotional drama
C. historical accuracy
D. interest in individuals
Answer: B
Page reference: 40
30. Known for his persecution of Jews, as recorded in the Hebrew Bible’s Book of
Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar II was responsible for transforming ______________into one
of the most splendid cities of its day.
A. Ur
B. Persepolis
C. Babylon
D. Nineveh
Answer: C
Page reference: 44
31. The relief of Darius and Xerxes Receiving Tribute (Fig. 2-25) exemplifies Persian
art’s emphasis on _________.
A. the divinity of the king
B. military power
C. allegiance and economic prosperity
D. multicultural tolerance
Answer: C
Page reference: 45-47
32. The Ishtar Gate and the walls extended beyond were made from _____________.
A. semi-precious stones
B. glazed bricks
C. glass mosaic
D. paint
Answer: B
Page reference: 44
33. The first domestication of grains occurred in the area known as the __________.
A. Fertile Crescent
B. Hattusha
C. Zagros mountains
D. Persia
Answer: A
Page reference: 28
34. The Sumerians were defeated by their northern neighbors called the __________.
A. Lullubians
B. Guti
C. Akkadians
D. Hittites
Answer: C
Page reference: 28
35. The __________of Hammurabi is made of basalt and stands almost seven feet
tall.
A. Apadana
B. Stele
C. Ziggurat
D. Lamassu
Answer: B
Page reference: 39
36. Along with shell and wood the materials ________ and ______ were used to sculpt
the elaborate bull head on a lyre found at a royal tomb in Ur.
A. iron; gold
B. faience; turquoise
C. glazed brick; gold
D. gold; lapis lazuli
Answer: D
Page reference: 34
37. To keep business records, the Sumerians pressed a __________ into clay tablets to
produce cuneiform writing.
A. stylus
B. seal
C. picture stamp
D. chisel
Answer: A
Page reference: 28
38. Gilgamesh was the legendary king of __________.
A. Babylon
B. Akkad
C. Uruk
D. Anu
Answer: C
Page reference: 28
39. Sculptures of the leader Gudea emphasize ______________.
A. his power
B. the power centers of the body
C. his relationship to his queens
D. his law code
Answer: B
Page reference: 37
40. The Great Lyre with Bull’s Head was found in a royal __________.
A. palace
B. tomb
C. gateway
D. crenellation
Answer: B
Page reference: 32
41. A beautiful copper alloy head, which is the earliest major work of hollow-cast
sculpture known in the ancient Near East, dates from the time of __________.
A. Darius
B. Nebuchadnezzar
C. Ashurbanipal
D. Sargon
Answer: D
Page reference: 36
42. In the Stele of Hammurabi, Hammurabi stands in a gesture of____________ before
the seated god Shamash.
A. submission
B. defeat
C. prayer
D. victory
Answer: C
Page reference: 39
43. The __________ may have been the first group of people to work in iron.
A. Persians
B. Hittites
C. Gudeans
D. Lullubians
Answer: B
Page reference: 38
44. Most of the buildings in Kalhu were built from __________ and covered with
limestone and alabaster.
A. cut marble
B. alabaster
C. bitumen
D. mud bricks
Answer: D
Page reference: 40
45. Sumerian votive figures possess __________that reflect Mesopotamian devotional
beliefs.
A. horned crowns
B. elaborate garments
C. large open eyes
D. muscular bodies
Answer: C
Page reference: 31
46. The ____________, which Darius built at Persepolis, was large enough to hold
several thousand people.
A. ziggurat
B. apadana
C. lamassu
D. stele
Answer: B
Page reference: 45
47. The ceremonial entrance to the city of Babylon was the __________ Gate.
A. Ishtar
B. Marduk
C. Anu
D. Naram-Sin
Answer: A
Page reference: 44
48. The relief sculpture of Assurnasirpal II killing lions probably depicts a
_____________.
A. detail of military campaign
B. ceremonial hunt
C. favorite past time of Assyrians
D. religious ritual
Answer: B
Page reference: 40
49. Relief sculptures like Darius and Xerxes Receiving Tribute at Persepolis would have
originally been _____________and included details in gold leaf.
A. glazed
B. sealed
C. inscribed with words
D. painted
Answer: D
Page reference: 47
50. The ruler, __________, conquered the Persian Empire in 334 BCE.
A. Sargon II
B. Xerxes
C. Alexander the Great
D. Gudea
Answer: C
Page reference: 47
51. Their tolerance of ___________ won the Persians the loyalty of their subjects.
A. internal uprisings
B. trade with the Greeks
C. native customs and religions
D. merchants
Answer: C
Page reference: 45
52. Naram-Sin is represented ____________, equating male vigor with power and
heroism.
A. with a well-formed body
B. wearing the costume of a pharaoh
C. with numerous deities
D. as a composite creature
Answer: A
Page reference: 27
53. In the Stele of Naram-Sin, the presence of trees suggests ________________.
A. a nature religion
B. movement out of the desert
C. a foreign land
D. an actual event
Answer: D
Page reference: 27
54. Demonstrating the importance of art objects as military booty, the ___________ was
taken by an Elamite king.
A. Disk of Enheduanna (Fig. 2-11)
B. Stele of Naram-Sin (Fig. 2-1)
C. Votive Statue of Gudea (Fig. 2-14)
D. Stele of Hammurabi (Fig. 2-15)
Answer: B
Page reference: 34, 36
55. On the Stele of Hammurabi, the ruler broke new ground by __________________.
A. his authoritarian rule
B. ill treatment of his enemies
C. regulating laws and punishments
D. portraying lion hunts
Answer: C
Page reference: 39
56. ________________ excavated Ur during the 1920s.
A. The Louvre
B. Sir Leonard Woolley
C. Baghdad diplomats
D. Susa
Answer: B
Page reference: 32
57. A Near East devotional practice was to set up __________ in a shrine before an
image of a god.
A. votive figures
B. statues of rulers
C. war spoilia
D. musical instruments
Answer: A
Page reference: 31
58. The main figure depicted on the Disk of Enheduanna was the daughter of the
Akkadian king ______________.
A. Assurnasirpal
B. Sargon I
C. Naram-Sin
D. Gudea
Answer: B
Page reference: 35-36
59. Cylinder seals, which were often buried with the dead, were signs of ____________.
A. favor of the gods
B. belief in the afterlife
C. status or high office
D. penance
Answer: C
Page reference: 35
60. In the image of Enemies Crossing the Euphrates to Escape Assyrian Archers
(p. 42), the __________________ convey depth.
A. trees
B. different viewpoints
C. presence of animals
D. overlapping and swimming
Answer: D
Page reference: 42
Short Answer
61. In the ancient Near East, why was there a need to control the water supply of the
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers?
62. What major cultural shift took place between 4000 BCE and 3000 BCE?
63. How was the ancient Near Eastern city-state created?
64. Why was Mesopotamia vulnerable to political upheaval?
65. How did the agriculture change the face of culture in the Fertile Crescent?
66. What types of arts flourished in early cities?
67. What are some of the important “firsts” developed by the Sumerians?
68. How was the ziggurat constructed and what purpose did it serve?
69. What purposes did the large architectural complexes of Uruk serve?
70. What are some of the conventions of the Sumerian votive figure?
71. How is trade exemplified in The Great Lyre with Bull’s Head?
72. What is the subject of the register scenes of The Great Lyre with Bull’s Head?
73. What did the mutilations of the Head of a Man (Fig. 2-12) mean?
74. What story does the Stele of Naram-Sin tell?
75. How is Gudea generally portrayed and why is his face so familiar?
76. What were the geographic boarders of the Hittite civilization?
77. How did Assurnasirpal II improve his empire?
78. What were some of the significant features of the palace complex of Sargon II?
79. What were some of the marvels of the city of Babylon?
80. How was the imperial complex at Persepolis laid out and how did it develop?
81. What types of Persian art shows their high level of technical and artistic
sophistication?
Essay
82. Trace the development of the various cultures that inhabited Mesopotamia from the
Sumerians to the Persians.
