2.1 A Long, Long Time Ago

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Altamira Cave

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A cave in northern Spain where prehistoric paintings were discovered in 1879. The paintings are believed to be 25,000 – 35,000 years old.

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Ancient Egypt

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A culture that existed in what is modern-day Egypt and surrounding areas. It lasted from around 3000 – 332 BC and is known for building elaborate tombs, such as the pyramids.

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Ancient Greece

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A period of Greek history that lasted from 1100 – 146 BC and had a strong influence on other cultures of the time. It is often considered the foundation of modern Western civilization and is characterized by a focus on math, science, and the arts.

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Ancient Rome

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A period from 753 BC – AD 1453 in which Rome controlled Egypt, southwestern Europe, and Asia Minor at the height of its power. This empire contributed greatly to law, politics, philosophy, technology, language, and art. Also known as the Roman Kingdom, Roman Republic, and Roman Empire.

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Archaic

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Pertaining to the arts in Greece from circa 800 – 500 BC. The period is characterized by a focus on the human figure and motion.

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Black-figure Technique

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In ancient Greece, a style of pottery painting used from the 7th – 5th centuries BC in which figures were lightly engraved and painted on clay and then fired under high heat, turning the figures black and the clay red.

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Classical

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Pertaining to the arts in Greece circa 500 – 300 BC. The period is characterized by a focus on sculpture and the natural world. Also historically used to refer to the general Greco-Roman influence on later artists and movements.

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Euphronios

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(ca. 535 – 470 BC) Ancient Greek painter and potter of the Classical period; most famous artist of the red-figure technique.

Major work: Sarpedon Krater; circa 515 BC.

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Exekias

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(ca. 550 – 525 BC) The most famous of the ancient Greek black-figure pottery painters from the Archaic period. He is known for his attention to detail.

Major work: Dionysus Cup, circa 535 BC.

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Fayum Mummy Portraits

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The original name for a large group of panel painting portraits found in ancient Roman Egypt. The name now refers to any mummy portrait painted in wood in this style.

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Fetish

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In art, an object that is believed to have supernatural or godlike powers.

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Foreshortening

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In art, the illusion that objects, figures, or distances are shorter than they are, created by angling these forms toward the viewer.

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Fresco

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A painting created by applying water-based color pigments directly to wet plaster on a wall or ceiling.

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Frieze

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A scene that has been partially carved from stone, created using plaster, or painted on the tops of walls on the inside or outside of buildings.

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Greco-Roman

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A term used to refer to the combined influences of ancient Greece and ancient Rome, usually on art and architecture.

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Great Pyramid of Giza

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The largest pyramid structure built in ancient Egypt. It was built in 2550 BC and consists of one main pyramid, two smaller pyramids, and a surrounding series of buildings.

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Hellenistic

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Pertaining to the arts in Greece from circa 300 – 1 BC. The period is characterized by attention to detail, dramatic movement, and representation of emotion.

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Landscape

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A genre of art that shows a natural scene, usually in a sweeping style. Landscapes often include hills or mountains; bodies of water; or forests, farms, and gardens.

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Lascaux Caves

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A series of caves in southwestern France where prehistoric paintings were discovered in 1940. The paintings are dated to about 17000 BC.

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Minoan Civilization

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A culture that existed on the island of Crete in modern-day Greece. It lasted from around 2700 – 1450 BC and is known for having created "art for art's sake."

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Panel Painting

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A style of painting started by the ancient Greeks in which small wooden boards were painted with tempera, though later panel paintings were created using oil paint.

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Phidias

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(ca. 480 – 430 BC) An ancient Greek sculptor and architect of the Classical period most known for his large friezes.

Major works: Statue of Zeus at Olympia; Athena Parthenos.

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Red-figure Technique

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In ancient Greece, a style of pottery painting used from the 5th – 3rd centuries BC in which figures were painted on clay and fired on high, medium, and finally, low heat, turning the clay black and the figures red.

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Relief

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In art, a method of sculpting in which an image is only partially carved into a stone or other medium.

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Tempera

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Color pigments traditionally mixed with egg yolks and water to be used as paint.