Life, Death, and Beyond: Funerary Art Quiz

Answer: Dolmen

It is not actually clear whether dolmens were erected to act as tombs, or whether they originally served some other purpose. However, it is usual to find bones and artefacts under them, leading historians to suppose that they came to serve that function even if it was not the original purpose. They usually consist of three to five upright stones supporting a large flat horizontal stone. When originally constructed, it is thought that they were covered with earth or small stones, producing a barrow.

The word 'dolmen' was first applied to these structures by the French archaeologist Théophile Malo Corret de la Tour d'Auvergne in the eighteenth century, using a word derived from the Breton phrase 'taol maen', meaning 'stone table'. A dolmen is also referred to in Irish as dolmain, in Welsh as cromlech, in German as Hünengrab, in Swedish as dös, and in Korean as goindol.

Answer: Egyptian

Originally, ushabti looked like small mummies, but they later evolved into figures which clearly resembled servants, with baskets, urns, and tools in their hands. They ranged in size from a few inches in height to life-size, although those were reserved for figures of significance such as pharaohs. Materials used to make them included wood, wax, stone, metal, terracotta and glazed pottery.

The Egyptians included them in funeral rituals from around 2000 BCE until roughly the first century CE. Because they were so widely used, there are lots of them for museums around the world to display in their Egyptian sections - check your nearest museum to see them in person.

Answer: Sarcophagus

The word 'sarcophagus' comes from Greek words meaning 'flesh-eating' - the limestone of which they were formed was supposed to cause the corpse's decomposition. The outside was often highly decorated. This is an example of a Roman sarcophagus, which depicts several gods and symbols of prosperity such as the lamb around the neck of the central figure.

It was actually more common to depict partying scenes on a sarcophagus - this is a very restrained example of the Roman style.

Answer: Wedding

The loutrophoros is a pottery vessel with a very elongated neck, and two handles. The one in the picture dates from around 700 BCE. The loutrophoros (a name coming from Greek words meaning 'carry bathwater') was primarily used to carry the water for the ritual bathing that accompanied wedding ceremonies. However, it was also placed in the tombs of those who died unmarried - presumably everyone is entitled to a close encounter of the loutrophoros kind at some time in their life.

None of the alternative ceremonies is associated with the ancient Greek culture - baptism is a Christian rite, Bar Mitzvah is Jewish, and a debut is a tradition of much later origin in which a young woman is introduced to society.

Answer: Mausoleum of Helicarnassus

The tomb of Mausolus and his wife (and sister) Artemisia was designed by the Greek architects Satyros and Pythius of Priene, and was constructed around 350 BCE in Helicarnassus, a Greek city that stood where the modern city of Bodrum, Turkey is now located. Standing 45 m (148 ft) high, and with each side decorated with sculptures from a different renowned Greek artist, the tomb was declared by Antipater of Sidon to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, along with the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Colossus of Rhodes, and the Lighthouse of Alexandria.

Answer: The Terracotta Army

The Terracotta Army is a collection of terracotta figures estimated to include over 8,000 soldiers, 130 horse-drawn chariots, and 150 cavalry horses. The army was presumably intended to defend the emperor Qin Shi Huang in his afterlife. They were part of a massive underground tomb which included a replica of the royal palace, and which has only been partially excavated at this time.

The figures are life-size, but higher ranking officers are larger than the rank and file. Each figure is an individual, with finishing details making it different from the others with the same basic composition.

It is thought that they were realistically painted, as well as being armed with real weapons. Keeping in mind the realistic detail shown in the pictured figure adds to the impressive display when you see row on row of them.

Answer: Mural

The Goguryeo kingdom, one of the three kingdoms of ancient Korea, spread over the central and northern area of the Korean peninsula, as well as parts of southern Manchuria and Russia, from the first century BCE until the seventh century CE. This complex of around 30 tombs near Pyongyang, the kingdom's capital, where the pictured mural can be seen, became North Korea's first World Heritage site in 2004. Many of the tombs have murals, which are just about all that remains from the period, and form the main source of knowledge about daily life at that time. As well as depicting everyday activities, they depict various aspects of Korean mythology.

The mural shown in the photo comes from Anak Tomb No.3, one of the few with inscriptions allowing it to be accurately dated (to 357 CE). It also includes a name, Dong Shou, but the exact identity of that person remains obscure. He is possibly the subject of the image in the photo.

Answer: A ship was used for the burial chamber

Sutton Hoo has been the site of many burials over the centuries, but it was the remains of a ship, discovered in 1939, that formed the centre of significant interest in the site. The wood had disintegrated, leaving mostly just iron rivets, but the shape of the ship could be clearly seen in the sand.

It appears to have been lowered into a prepared hole, after which the body and a range of artefacts were added, and a large mound erected over the grave. Artefacts from the burial include the pictured helmet, a shield and sword, a lyre, and gold ornaments set with gems.

The quality of these items has led scholars to suppose that the body was that of a king, but the exact identity is not clear. Since it is thought to be from the early part of the seventh century CE, the most likely candidates are thought to be the East Anglian king Raedwald or one of his sons, Sigeberht or Eorpwald.

Answer: Taj Mahal

While most people think of the Taj Mahal as being the tomb, shown in the picture from the southern side, the complex also includes extensive gardens and pools. The walls of the buildings, which are constructed from white marble, were extensively decorated with calligraphy and abstract art forms, as Islamic law means that no human forms could be used in the artwork. This building is considered an outstanding example of Mughal architecture, which combines aspects of Persian, Indian and Turkish architecture. Materials used in its construction and decoration included marble from Rajasthan, jasper from Punjab, turquoise from Tibet, Lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, crystal from China, sapphire from Sri Lanka, and carnelian from Arabia.

Mumtaz Mahal died in 1631, while giving birth to the couple's fourteenth child. The Taj Mahal was built between 1632 and 1653. Shortly after its completion, Shah Jahan was deposed by his son Aurangzeb and placed under arrest in Fort Agra; when he died in 1666 his body was placed next to that of his wife. Legend says that he died in a room with a balcony that provided a view of the Taj Mahal.

Answer: Che Guevara

It is a tribute to the charismatic energy of Che Guevara that he not only inspired revolutions in the South American countries where he led rebellions, but he has also been taken on as a symbol for people in many parts of the world who consider themselves to be struggling for freedom against oppressive governments.

In 1997, the remains of Che Guevara and six of those who died with him fighting in Bolivia were returned to Cuba and placed in the Che Guevara mausoleum in Santa Clara, Cuba.