Indigenous Americas
Located in Chavin de Huantar, this stone god has the head of snakes, the face of a jaguar and a human body.
What is the Lanzon Stele?
Used in both Inka and Shona societies, this masonry technique involves precise carving of the stone rather than using mortar.
What is ashlar masonry?
The wall of a mosque that faces Mecca, indicating in which direction people should pray.
What is the Qibla Wall?
A reliquary or funerary mound used as a site for circumambulation and prayer in Buddhism.
What is a stupa?
Intricate, man-made basalt islets that housed 1,000 people in Micronesia.
What is Nan Madol?
A round ceremonial room found in the Mesa Verde Cliff dwellings.
What is a kiva?
The Ikenga figures from the Igbo people were included in personal shrines and, therefore, had details related to the owner. However all Ikenga have this feature in common.
What are ram's horns?
One of the three types of Islamic religious art, this decoration consists of rhythmic patterns of scrolling and interlaced foliage.
What is an arabesque?
The experience of circumambulating Borobudur in Indonesia is intended to mimic this aspect of Buddhism.
What is the path to enlightenment?
These figures on Rapa Nui were carved in two stages. In the later stage, the backs were incised with images related to the birdman cult.
What are the moai?
The space between the secular and spiritual worlds, usually marked by a gate or lintel, such as the lintels at Yaxchilan.
What is a liminal space?
In this culture, certain men wear Elephant masks during funerary and ceremonial rituals, showing their membership in a powerful society designed to enforce the rule of the king.
What is the Bamileke people?
What is the Treasury at Petra?
Created during the Kamakura period by artists from the Kei School, these sculptures guard the entrance to Todai-ji.
What are the Nio Guardian Statues?
Sticks and shells were woven together to make these critical 'maps' in the Marshall Islands of Micronesia.
What are navigation charts?
This work, discovered in modern day Mexico City, depicts the origin story of Huitzilopotchli.
What is the Coyolxauhqui Stone?
The veranda post, created by Olowe of Ise, uses this artistic device to demonstrate the importance of the senior wife over the king.
What is hieratic or hierarchical scale?
The Dome of the Rock was constructed by the head of the Umayyad Caliphate for this purpose.
What is:
to provide a central focus while they did not control Mecca or Medina?
to commemorate Muhammad's ascent to heaven in the Night Journey?
During the Cultural Revolution, Chairman Mao changed the direction of Chinese art by declaring this.
What is 'that art must serve politics first?'
The colors of the 'ahu'ula, worn by Hawaiian chiefs, provided a visual symbol regarding the status of the wearer. The use of red feathers indicated this.
What is 'a religious or sacred object/person?'
The bandolier bags made by the Lenape people demonstrated wealth and power by using this material.
What are imported glass beads?
The herniated or accentuated belly button of these Fang reliquary figures symbolized a connection to their ancestors.
What are Byeri?
To ensure that no one is placed before god, copies of the Qu'ran may NOT include this.
What are images of people?
The south gate of Angkor Thom depicts this Buddhist myth, demonstrating that the Khmer emperor was aware that many of his followers were not Hindu like him.
What is the Churning of the Ocean of Milk?
Carved from wood of the breadfruit tree, sculptures from this atoll show abstracted human forms with ovoid heads, minimal features and only an indication of hands and feet. However, they influenced several 20th century European artists.
What is Nukuoro?