Answer to Question 1
Like the rulers of ancient Egypt, Benin kings are viewed as sacred beings, which is common in many African societies. Art is employed to dramatize and support this concept of a sacred kingship. Royal altars were dedicated to the king's hand, a symbol of physical prowess. Hands are depicted around its base where they alternate with rams' heads. The king is shown seated atop the altar flanked by attendants in a symmetrical composition, which expresses a social hierarchy. The king is at the center and is portrayed larger than the other figures, which employs scale as an indication of importance. Proportionally, the king takes up one-third of his total height. Representations of the king manifest themselves through the use of proportion.
Answer to Question 2
Where the mosaics in a Byzantine church might depict Jesus, Mary, and saints, the mosaics in a mosque do not portray any people, much less images of God. The Qur'an contains a stern warning against the worship of idols, and this led to a doctrine prohibiting images of animate beings in religious contexts. The creative result was decorative geometric patterns and stylized plant forms. Arabic script also became an important element of decoration.
Urinometer. In this procedure, a urine sample and urinometer are placed within a tube, and the liqui
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Portuguese Warrior Surrounded by Manillas, Court of Benin, Nigeria.
Patients unable to stand may be weighed using a chair scale.
Benin City Palace Ancestral Altar Dedicated to Oba Ovonramwen
GDP per Capita in the United States, 1870–2009 (Ratio Scale)