Question 1

The orientation of the passageway at Newgrange seems to have been based on:
A) ancient pathways.
B) the direction of sunlight on the winter solstice.
C) an understanding of true north.
D) the relationship of the site to Stonehenge.
E) None of the answers is correct.

Accepted Answer

The orientation of the passageway at Newgrange is aligned with the rising sun on the winter solstice, allowing sunlight to penetrate the main chamber.

Question 2

The principal building material for Mesopotamian ziggurats was:
A) white marble.
B) sun-dried brick.
C) tamped earth.
D) sandstone.
E) granite.

Accepted Answer

The principal building material for Mesopotamian ziggurats was sun-dried brick. Mesopotamia lacked abundant natural stone resources, so the people there used what was plentiful: mud and clay, forming bricks that were left to dry in the sun.

Question 3

A trilithon at Stonehenge consists of:
A) three coffin-sized stone slabs used as an altar.
B) a vertical sighting stone and two horizontal stones.
C) two upright stones capped by a lintel.
D) three concentric rings of ditches.
E) None of the answers is correct.

Accepted Answer

A trilithon at Stonehenge consists of two upright stones (sarsens) capped by a horizontal stone known as a lintel. This architectural feature is distinctive of Stonehenge's design.

Question 4

The most common Mesopotamian house type:
A) made use of a cella.
B) was built from glazed brick.
C) was based on a Persian house.
D) had a courtyard at its core.
E) made use of a cella and was built from glazed brick.

Accepted Answer

The most common Mesopotamian house type had a courtyard at its core, which served as the central feature around which rooms were arranged to facilitate air circulation and provide light.

Question 5

All of the following civilizations operated in Mesopotamia EXCEPT the:
A) Sumerian civilization.
B) Achaean civilization.
C) Babylonian civilization.
D) Hittite civilization.
E) Assyrian civilization.

Accepted Answer

The Achaean civilization is associated with ancient Greece, not Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia was home to several ancient civilizations, including the Sumerians, Babylonians, Hittites, and Assyrians, but not the Achaeans.

Question 6

At Persepolis, the Persians borrowed from Egyptian artistic traditions by using:
A) an obelisk.
B) a hypostyle hall.
C) a megaron.
D) a trilithon.
E) None of the answers is correct.

Accepted Answer

The Persians borrowed the concept of a hypostyle hall from Egyptian architectural traditions, incorporating it into their own monumental buildings at sites like Persepolis. Hypostyle halls, characterized by their large rooms filled with columns, were a significant feature in Egyptian temples and were adopted by the Persians in their palatial architecture.

Question 7

Serdabs were small chambers for spirit offerings in:
A) mastabas.
B) pyramids.
C) the Sphinx.
D) Persia.
E) None of the answers is correct.

Accepted Answer

Serdabs were small chambers found in mastabas, which are ancient Egyptian tombs, used for making offerings to the spirits of the deceased.

Question 8

Ancient Egyptian architecture is characterized by the use of obelisks, which refer to:
A) unique double-headed capitals carved in the form of bulls and lions.
B) stone columns that support wooden roof beams.
C) sculpted animal motifs.
D) small terracotta cones.
E) pyramid shapes at the top of stone shafts.

Accepted Answer

Obelisks are tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monuments with a pyramidion (pyramid-shaped top) at the top, which were originally erected in pairs at the entrances of temples. They are made of stone and are a hallmark of ancient Egyptian architecture.

Question 9

The Djoser pyramid was unique in the Old Kingdom in that it was:
A) extremely steeply pitched.
B) covered with glazed brick.
C) located on an island.
D) double-sloped.
E) None of the answers is correct.

Accepted Answer

The Djoser pyramid, also known as the Step Pyramid, was unique for being the earliest colossal stone building in Egypt and the earliest large-scale cut stone construction, but it was not unique for any of the reasons listed in the options. It was not extremely steeply pitched, covered with glazed brick, located on an island, or double-sloped.

Question 10

The trio of large pyramids at Giza are the work of:
A) Mentuhotep, Khufu, and Khafra.
B) Cheops, Chepren, and Hatshepsut.
C) Cheops, Chepren, and Djoser.
D) Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure.
E) Mentuhotep, Hatshepsut, and Djoser.

Accepted Answer

The trio of large pyramids at Giza were built by Pharaohs Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. Khufu's pyramid is also known as the Great Pyramid. Cheops and Chepren are the Greek names for Khufu and Khafre, respectively.

Question 11

The pyramid complex in Giza, Egypt, included:
A) a valley temple.
B) a causeway to the valley temple.
C) a mortuary temple.
D) a causeway to the mortuary temple.
E) All of the answers are correct.

Accepted Answer

The pyramid complex in Giza, Egypt, indeed included a valley temple, a causeway leading to the valley temple, a mortuary temple, and a causeway leading to the mortuary temple, making all the given options correct.

Question 12

Middle Kingdom tombs at Dier-el-Bahari include that of:
A) Mentuhotep II.
B) Queen Hatshepsut.
C) Beni-Hasan.
D) King Djoser.
E) Thutmose II.

Accepted Answer

Mentuhotep II's tomb is located at Deir el-Bahari, which is a significant site for Middle Kingdom burials.

Question 13

The dominant elements at Queen Hatshepsut's temple are:
A) pylon gates.
B) colonnades.
C) pyramids.
D) obelisks.
E) None of the answers is correct.

Accepted Answer

Queen Hatshepsut's temple, also known as Djeser-Djeseru, is renowned for its impressive colonnades. These are rows of columns that support the structure and are a dominant architectural element in the design of the temple.

Question 14

Hypostyle halls were lit by:
A) skylights.
B) colonnades.
C) courtyards.
D) clerestory windows.
E) All of the answers are correct.

Accepted Answer

Hypostyle halls were primarily lit by clerestory windows, which are high windows that allow light to enter the central part of the hall.

Question 15

Which of the following is true about the funerary complex of Queen Hatshepsut?
A) The overall design was doubtless inspired by the trio of large pyramids in Giza.
B) The façades of the temple were articulated by buttressing pilasters.
C) Unique double-headed capitals carved in the form of bulls and lions were present in the temple.
D) Mud-brick walls and a post-and-lintel timber framework enclosed rectangular spaces in the complex.
E) The overall design of the complex was inspired by the neighboring temple of Mentuhotep.

Accepted Answer

The funerary complex of Queen Hatshepsut, located in Deir el-Bahri, was indeed inspired by the neighboring temple of Mentuhotep II, not the pyramids of Giza. This inspiration is evident in its terraced structure and integration with the natural cliff face, distinguishing it from the pyramid style of earlier pharaohs.

Question 16

Which of the following statements is true of the Acropolis in Tepe Gawra, Sumer (Iraq)?
A) Its major buildings formed a B-shaped closed court.
B) The building was erected in a valley and it reflected its insignificance to the society.
C) The façades of its courts were articulated by buttressing pilasters.
D) Its walls were made of red granite and surrounded by obelisks.
E) There were massive columns and obelisks on the path leading to the building.

Accepted Answer

The Acropolis in Tepe Gawra, like many ancient structures in Mesopotamia, featured architectural elements such as buttressing pilasters to provide structural support and aesthetic articulation to the façades of its courts. This technique was common in the architecture of the region, helping to define spaces and add visual interest to the exteriors of buildings.

Question 17

In the context of the architecture in ancient Egypt, monumental masonry entrance gates or ________ lined processional routes to represent the eastern mountains of Egypt through which the divine early-morning sunlight emanated.
A) pylons
B) obelisks
C) trilithons
D) colonnades
E) pilasters

Accepted Answer

Pylons are the monumental masonry entrance gates that were often used in ancient Egyptian architecture to line processional routes, symbolizing the eastern mountains from which the sun would rise. They served as impressive entrances to temples and other significant structures.

Question 18

The Great Temple of Amun was built by:
A) the Ptolemies.
B) the followers of Khafre.
C) captive Hebrews.
D) multiple pharaohs.
E) None of the answers is correct.

Accepted Answer

The Great Temple of Amun, located in Karnak, was built and expanded upon by multiple pharaohs over a period of many centuries, reflecting the contributions of various rulers to its grandeur.

Question 19

The White Temple of Uruk was called so because its exterior was:
A) covered with white marble.
B) dedicated to the white river god.
C) whitewashed.
D) surrounded by white sand.
E) None of the answers is correct.

Accepted Answer

The White Temple of Uruk was called so because its exterior was whitewashed, giving it a distinctive white appearance.

Question 20

Access to the ziggurat at Ur was made possible by:
A) a flight of stairs.
B) multiple ramps.
C) a single bridge.
D) an armada of boats.
E) None of the answers is correct.

Accepted Answer

Ziggurats, including the one at Ur, were typically accessed by a flight of stairs, allowing priests and authorized individuals to ascend to the temple at the top.

Quiz 1: The Beginnings of Architecture

The orientation of the passageway at Newgrange seems to have been based on:

The principal building material for Mesopotamian ziggurats was:

A trilithon at Stonehenge consists of:

The most common Mesopotamian house type:

All of the following civilizations operated in Mesopotamia EXCEPT the:

At Persepolis, the Persians borrowed from Egyptian artistic traditions by using:

Serdabs were small chambers for spirit offerings in:

Ancient Egyptian architecture is characterized by the use of obelisks, which refer to:

The Djoser pyramid was unique in the Old Kingdom in that it was:

The trio of large pyramids at Giza are the work of:

The pyramid complex in Giza, Egypt, included:

Middle Kingdom tombs at Dier-el-Bahari include that of:

The dominant elements at Queen Hatshepsut's temple are:

Hypostyle halls were lit by:

Which of the following is true about the funerary complex of Queen Hatshepsut?

Which of the following statements is true of the Acropolis in Tepe Gawra, Sumer (Iraq) ?

In the context of the architecture in ancient Egypt, monumental masonry entrance gates or ________ lined processional routes to represent the eastern mountains of Egypt through which the divine early-morning sunlight emanated.

The Great Temple of Amun was built by:

The White Temple of Uruk was called so because its exterior was:

Access to the ziggurat at Ur was made possible by: