Unit 6: Ancient Indian art - Practice Quiz

HIS291 — Ancient Indian History And Culture 52 Questions
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1 Which material was predominantly used in the Mathura School of Art during the Kushana period?

A. Granite
B. Blue Schist
C. Spotted Red Sandstone
D. White Marble

2 The Great Stupa at Sanchi was originally commissioned by which Emperor?

A. Chandragupta Maurya
B. Pushyamitra Shunga
C. Ashoka
D. Kanishka

3 Which of the following sites is situated along the Waghora river?

A. Elephanta Caves
B. Ellora Caves
C. Ajanta Caves
D. Bagh Caves

4 In the context of Stupa architecture at Sanchi, what does the term 'Harmika' refer to?

A. The circumambulatory path
B. The hemispherical dome
C. The square railing box on top of the dome
D. The gateway

5 The Bharhut Stupa is primarily associated with which dynasty?

A. Shunga
B. Gupta
C. Maurya
D. Vakataka

6 The painting of 'Bodhisattva Padmapani' is found in which cave of Ajanta?

A. Cave 16
B. Cave 1
C. Cave 17
D. Cave 2

7 Which school of art produced the first iconic images (anthropomorphic forms) of the Buddha?

A. Pala School
B. Sarnath School
C. Mathura School
D. Amaravati School

8 Where are the Bagh caves located?

A. Gujarat
B. Bihar
C. Maharashtra
D. Madhya Pradesh

9 The sculptures at Bharhut are most notable for their:

A. Use of marble
B. Greco-Roman influence
C. Narrative art and low relief
D. High relief and 3D realism

10 What is the primary religious theme of the Ajanta paintings?

A. Shaivism
B. Hinduism (Vaishnavism)
C. Buddhism
D. Jainism

11 The Mathura School of Art flourished primarily under the patronage of which rulers?

A. Kushanas
B. Satavahanas
C. Mauryas
D. Guptas

12 Which cave at Bagh is locally known as 'Rang Mahal'?

A. Cave 5
B. Cave 2
C. Cave 9
D. Cave 4

13 The Toranas (gateways) of Sanchi were likely funded by:

A. Foreign diplomats
B. Royal treasury only
C. Collective donations from common people and guilds
D. The Gupta Emperors

14 Which text contains the 'Chitrasutra', a treatise on the art of painting applicable to ancient Indian art?

A. Natyashastra
B. Kamasutra
C. Vishnudharmottara Purana
D. Shilpa Shastra

15 The headless statue of Emperor Kanishka found at Mathura depicts him wearing:

A. Central Asian boots and a long coat
B. Buddhist monk robes
C. Roman Toga
D. A Dhoti and Angavastra

16 How many caves constitute the Ajanta complex?

A. Approximately 30
B. Approximately 12
C. Approximately 100
D. Approximately 9

17 The portrayal of 'Maya Devi's Dream' is a famous relief found at which site?

A. Elephanta
B. Bharhut
C. Mahabalipuram
D. Ellora

18 Unlike Ajanta, the paintings at Bagh generally depict:

A. More secular and worldly life scenes
B. Scenes from the Ramayana
C. Exclusively mythological demons
D. Only geometric patterns

19 The 'Dying Princess' is a celebrated painting found in which Ajanta cave?

A. Cave 19
B. Cave 10
C. Cave 1
D. Cave 16

20 In the Mathura style, the halo (prabhamandala) around the Buddha's head is typically:

A. Elaborately decorated with scallops
B. Square shaped
C. Absent
D. Plain and unadorned

21 The Southern Gateway of Sanchi Stupa 1 features a relief of:

A. Ashoka visiting the Ramagrama Stupa
B. Battle with Greeks
C. Shiva Nataraja
D. The war of Kalinga

22 The technique used in Ajanta paintings is best described as:

A. Mosaic
B. Mural painting (Temper/Fresco-secco)
C. True Fresco (Buon Fresco)
D. Oil Painting

23 Which of the following figures is a characteristic feature of the Bharhut railings?

A. Tirthankaras
B. Nataraja
C. Bodhisattva Maitreya in blue schist
D. Yaksha and Yakshini

24 The Bagh caves are excavated on the banks of which river?

A. Ganga
B. Narmada
C. Godavari
D. Bagh (Baghini)

25 Which symbol was NOT used to represent Buddha in early art at Sanchi and Bharhut?

A. Empty Throne
B. Bodhi Tree
C. Human Statue
D. Footprints (Paduka)

26 The 'Kankali Tila' site in Mathura is primarily famous for yielding remains of which religion?

A. Buddhism
B. Shaivism
C. Jainism
D. Vaishnavism

27 In Sanchi Stupa 1, the relief of the 'Mahakapi Jataka' depicts the Buddha as:

A. A Monkey King
B. A Deer
C. A King
D. An Elephant

28 The Ajanta caves were rediscovered in 1819 by:

A. John Marshall
B. James Prinsep
C. John Smith
D. Alexander Cunningham

29 Mathura art is known for the production of 'Ayagapatas'. What are they?

A. Hindu temple pillars
B. Buddhist relic caskets
C. Coins issued by Kanishka
D. Jain votive tablets

30 Which Cave at Ajanta contains the famous 'Mahaparinirvana' (Reclining Buddha) sculpture?

A. Cave 10
B. Cave 1
C. Cave 19
D. Cave 26

31 The 'Shadanga' or Six Limbs of Indian Art includes 'Lavanya Yojana', which means:

A. Simulation of reality
B. Use of brush
C. Rules of proportion
D. Infusion of grace/artistic beauty

32 The remains of the Bharhut Stupa are largely preserved in:

A. The British Museum
B. Indian Museum, Kolkata
C. Sanchi Site Museum
D. National Museum, New Delhi

33 In Mathura art, the Buddha is often depicted sitting on a lion throne. What is this posture called?

A. Simhasana
B. Pralambapadasana
C. Padmasana
D. Lalitasana

34 The earlier phase of Ajanta caves (e.g., Cave 9 and 10) belongs to which period?

A. Maurya
B. Satavahana
C. Shunga
D. Gupta-Vakataka

35 What is the 'Anda' in the structure of a Stupa?

A. The Gateway
B. The Umbrella
C. The Railing
D. The Hemispherical Dome

36 Which of the following is NOT a feature of the Mathura Buddha image?

A. Right hand in Abhaya Mudra
B. Left hand resting on the thigh or holding the robe
C. Shaven head or snail-shell curls (Kaparda)
D. Greek facial features

37 The paintings of Bagh are stylistically most similar to:

A. Rajput Paintings
B. Ajanta Paintings
C. Pala Miniatures
D. Mughal Paintings

38 Who provided the ivory carvers who worked on the Sanchi Stupa gateway?

A. Artisans from Mathura
B. Traders from Rome
C. Guild of Vidisha
D. Monks from Sri Lanka

39 The Bharhut railings contain inscriptions in which script?

A. Kharosthi
B. Brahmi
C. Greek
D. Devanagari

40 The Vakataka king Harishena is associated with the patronage of which site?

A. Bharhut Stupa
B. Mathura Sculptures
C. Sanchi Stupa
D. Ajanta Caves (Later Phase)

41 The 'Chhatra' on top of the Stupa symbolizes:

A. The four noble truths
B. The cycle of life and death
C. Royalty and protection (Dharma)
D. The monastic order

42 At Mathura, sculptures of Yakshas were found that served as prototypes for:

A. Stupa architecture
B. Later images of Buddha and Bodhisattvas
C. Rock-cut caves
D. Coin designs

43 The ceiling of Cave 1 at Ajanta is famous for painting depictions of:

A. Portraits of kings
B. Decorative geometric and floral motifs
C. Battles
D. Maps of the world

44 Which Jataka tale depicts the Buddha as a six-tusked elephant?

A. Chhaddanta Jataka
B. Hamsa Jataka
C. Mahakapi Jataka
D. Vessantara Jataka

45 The Bagh caves predominantly belong to which religious sect?

A. Shaivism
B. Digambara Jainism
C. Hinayana Buddhism
D. Mahayana Buddhism

46 The sculptural art of Bharhut is best described as 'aniconic'. What does this mean?

A. Only animals are depicted
B. Buddha is represented in human form
C. No religious figures are depicted
D. Buddha is represented through symbols

47 Which color was largely absent in the paintings of Ajanta?

A. Red Ochre
B. Blue (Lapis Lazuli)
C. Yellow Ochre
D. Lamp Black

48 The blue pigment used in Ajanta paintings was obtained from:

A. Indigo
B. Copper sulphate
C. Cobalt
D. Lapis Lazuli

49 The 'Salabhanjika' motif found at Sanchi Toranas represents:

A. A meditating monk
B. A warrior with a sword
C. A woman holding a tree branch
D. A dancing peacock

50 Which of the following sites has a circular Chaitya hall?

A. Junnar (Tulja Lena)
B. Bagh
C. Ajanta
D. Ellora

51 Stupa No. 3 at Sanchi contained the relics of:

A. Gautama Buddha
B. Ashoka
C. Sariputta and Mahamoggallana
D. Ananda and Upali

52 The 'Vessantara Jataka' painted at Ajanta narrates the story of:

A. A king who gave away everything
B. A bird preaching dharma
C. A lion and a jackal
D. A monkey saving a hunter