West African Art Sculptures Quiz

The Commemorative Head of an Oba is a brass sculpture from Benin that honors deceased rulers. These heads were placed on royal altars and symbolized continuity, authority, and spiritual power rather than individual portrait likeness.

These heads were made of brass in Benin, Nigeria, and served ceremonial purposes. They represented spiritual authority, royal ancestry, and the divine nature of kingship rather than wealth or warfare alone.

The term “cylindrical head with crown” describes the flat top surface of a cylinder. In art history, this term is used to describe the formal structure of certain sculptural heads.

The Ife Cylindrical Head with Crown was made of terracotta. This material was widely used in West African sculpture due to its availability and ability to capture refined detail.

The artwork is called the Dinya Head. It is a named sculpture used in art history to identify a specific stylistic and cultural example rather than an individual portrait.

The terracotta head from Nok, Nigeria is known as the Dinya Head. Its dating is stylistic, meaning based on appearance rather than exact archaeological dating methods.

The Elephant Petroglyph comes from Libya and dates between 12,000 and 8,000 BCE. It reflects early human observation of large wildlife and attempts to show scale and form.

An equestrian figure is a sculpture showing a person mounted on a horse. This form often symbolizes power, leadership, or military authority.

The terracotta equestrian figure originated in the Inland Niger Delta, Mali, around 1300–1400 CE. It reflects the cultural importance of horses and leadership.

“Equestrian Figure” is the correct art historical term used to describe sculptures of riders on horses.

The Benin equestrian sculpture is made of brass and depicts kings, warfare, and historical events, reinforcing royal authority and memory.

The Latin word “rex” means king. It is commonly used in historical and artistic contexts to denote royal status.

The Brass Ife sculpture represents a king. The realistic style and regalia indicate royal authority rather than a common individual.

The person depicted is named Lajuwa. Art historians use this name to identify the specific artwork within Ife traditions.

Lajuwa is a terracotta sculpture from Ife, Nigeria, dating between 1100 and 1400 CE. The material and style reflect advanced artistic skill.

The head is the uppermost part of the human body and is commonly referenced in both anatomy and sculpture due to its symbolic importance.