Analyzing Near Eastern 2D art
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AP Art History › Analyzing Near Eastern 2D art
Which of the following best explains the intended function of lamassus?
They were meant to ward off evil spirits
They were meant to denote specific areas of the citadel
They were meant to be offerings to the gods
They were meant to tell stories
They were simply meant to be decorative and had no deeper meaning
Explanation
Lamassus were believed to be atropopaic, or imbued with the power to ward off evil spirits or bad luck. They were placed outside the king's citadel to protect against just that. They would also be placed in gateways as guardians under archways.
Image is in the public domain, accessed through Wikipedia Media Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Human\_headed\_winged\_bull\_profile.jpg
The medium in which this work was created was _____________________.
paint on papyrus
carving in stone
mosaic in tile
oil on canvas
Explanation
As the Book of the Dead, from which the Last Judgment of Hu-Nefer was taken, was seen by Egyptians as a crucial guide for the deceased buried in a tomb, portability was desirable. Placing it on papyrus, with a straightforward painting, made it relatively less imposing than carved stone or massive wall frescoes, but also easier to read through the different sections.
Image is in the public domain, accessed through Wikipedia Media Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BD\_Hunefer.jpg