Analysis of the Benin Plaque

HistoryArt History / Benin EmpireMedium

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Read the excerpt from "Benin Plaque: The Oba with Europeans." His neck is completely invisible - a series of large rings runs from his shoulders right the way up to his lower lip. In his right hand he holds up a ceremonial axe. To either side kneel two high-court functionaries, dressed very like the Oba, but with plainer headdresses and fewer neck-rings. They wear belts hung with small crocodile heads, the emblem of those authorized to conduct business with Europeans - and the heads and shoulders of two tiny Europeans can be seen floating in the background. Which details are evident in both the excerpt and the image? Select 3 options. [ ] ceremonial jewelry [ ] government leaders [ ] period architecture [ ] family rituals [ ] European traders

This question includes visual content: The image shows a photograph of a rectangular bronze-style relief plaque. In the center is a larger figure (the Oba) wearing a ornate headdress and multiple neck rings. To his left and right are two smaller, kneeling figures (high-court functionaries). In the upper background/corners, there are two small figures representing Europeans. The plaque feature relief carvings with intricate details on the garments, headdresses, and accessories.

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Step by Step Written Solution

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Step 1

Hi Seregwen, let's analyze this excerpt and the accompanying image of the Benin Plaque to identify the common details mentioned in both.

Multi-Modal Analysis: Benin Plaque

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Step 2

The question asks us to select three options that are evident in both the text and the image. Let's look at the text first.

Key Text Evidence

- 'series of large rings'

- 'high-court functionaries'

- 'tiny Europeans... in the background'

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Step 3

Now, let's look at our first option: ceremonial jewelry. The text mentions a series of large rings on the neck and belts hung with crocodile heads.

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Step 4

When we look at the image, we can clearly see the stacked rings around the necks of the figures. So, ceremonial jewelry is definitely one of our answers.

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Step 5

Next, let's consider government leaders. The text mentions the Oba, who is a king, and high-court functionaries.

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About This Question

Subject
History
Topic
Art History / Benin Empire
Difficulty
Medium
Question Type
Multiple Choice

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