Ancient Greece The Early Ages At left is the Nike of Samothrace 200 B.C.E

The Beginning Early Greek civilization is divided into three parts: -The Heroic Age -The Age of Colonization -The Archaic Period

Heroic Age1,000 to 750 B.C.E. Known as the age in which the Homeric epic poems were assembled into a cohesive whole. Known as the age in which the Homeric epic poems were assembled into a cohesive whole. The stories that make up The Illiad and T he Odyssey were probably disjointed legends until a bard(s) created an official, accepted version. The stories that make up The Illiad and T he Odyssey were probably disjointed legends until a bard(s) created an official, accepted version. So, who was Homer…it’s hard to say… So, who was Homer…it’s hard to say…

The Blinding of Polyphemus (note: this piece is later than any from the Heroic Age)

Detail of a different piece, same scene

Society This era is characterized by formation of the polis, or city state. This era is characterized by formation of the polis, or city state. Each city state was centered on a different metropolitan area. Each city state was centered on a different metropolitan area. Greek nationalism was fragmentary. Greek nationalism was fragmentary.

Notice how the geography of Greece lends itself to the polis.

Art in the Heroic Age started off slowly… In the Dipylon Vase the scene depicted is a funeral. This early vase suggests that the Heroic Age was more literary than visually artistic. Art of the Heroic Age is known for being Geometric. In the Dipylon Vase the scene depicted is a funeral. This early vase suggests that the Heroic Age was more literary than visually artistic. Art of the Heroic Age is known for being Geometric.

At right, is a geometric amphora from the 8 th century. Notice the Meander or Greek Key pattern.

Age of Colonization From 750 to 600 B.C.E. the Greeks traveled abroad and brought home ideas from diverse regions. This travel seemed to be the stimulus needed to spark a change in art. From 750 to 600 B.C.E. the Greeks traveled abroad and brought home ideas from diverse regions. This travel seemed to be the stimulus needed to spark a change in art.

Travel brought influences from all over the region, including the East. This led to a period called the Oriental Style. Look carefully, you will see the remnants of the Geometric but also natural figures. Like the amphora, this is a period of transitions Travel brought influences from all over the region, including the East. This led to a period called the Oriental Style. Look carefully, you will see the remnants of the Geometric but also natural figures. Like the amphora, this is a period of transitions

BUT the first examples of Greek sculpture show the influence of another civilization… BUT the first examples of Greek sculpture show the influence of another civilization…

…the Egyptians! The Greeks were influenced by ancient Egyptian sculpture. Notice the block like pose of Mycerinus and His Queen (2600 B.C.E.) a masterpiece of Egyptian art.

. THE ARCHAIC AGE B.C.E The Archaic Age marks a fresh type of art, but do you see the influence of the Egyptian king and queen on this early Greek statue? The Archaic Age marks a fresh type of art, but do you see the influence of the Egyptian king and queen on this early Greek statue? Kore from Delos 650 B.C.E. Kore from Delos 650 B.C.E.

Kouros from Attica 600 B.C.E Fifty years later, there are major changes. What’s the major difference between this Kouros and the Kore seen in the last slide? How does this statue differ from the Egyptian royal pair? Fifty years later, there are major changes. What’s the major difference between this Kouros and the Kore seen in the last slide? How does this statue differ from the Egyptian royal pair? Standing Youth (Kouros) 600 B.C. Standing Youth (Kouros) 600 B.C.

Egyptian Conservatism vs. Greek Dynamism The Egyptians are noted (and I generalize greatly) for a sense of conservatism. The Egyptians are noted (and I generalize greatly) for a sense of conservatism. Changes in art, thinking, and tradition happened slowly, over the course of centuries. Changes in art, thinking, and tradition happened slowly, over the course of centuries. At no point did “the Egyptian carver…liberate figures completely from the stone” (Janson 160). At no point did “the Egyptian carver…liberate figures completely from the stone” (Janson 160). The Greeks borrowed the beginnings of their artistic tradition from the Egyptians, then they freed it to fit their dynamic culture. The Greeks borrowed the beginnings of their artistic tradition from the Egyptians, then they freed it to fit their dynamic culture.

The Archaic Period The beginning of sculpture and massive architecture marks the Archaic period. The Greeks were stretching their wings artistically. The beginning of sculpture and massive architecture marks the Archaic period. The Greeks were stretching their wings artistically. The Egyptian influence is no surprise. Greeks were traveling south to Egypt too, and small colonies of Greeks lived in Egypt permanently. The Egyptian influence is no surprise. Greeks were traveling south to Egypt too, and small colonies of Greeks lived in Egypt permanently.

Kouros from Anavysos - ca B.C. Only 75 years later than the first Kouros we examined. Beginning of the contrapposto.

Contrapposto —it’s all the rage! Contrapposto —it’s all the rage!

Kore in Dorian Peplos 530 B.C.E. Kore in Dorian Peplos 530 B.C.E. Look at the body shape. What do you notice? Look at the body shape. What do you notice?

Hera from Samos B.C.E. Hera from Samos B.C.E. Look at the shape of the body. Look at the shape of the body.

Compare the two: Which one shows the greater artistic achievement?

Calf Bearer 570 B.C. Calf Bearer 570 B.C. Naturalism of the calf combined with the fixed “archaic smile.” Naturalism of the calf combined with the fixed “archaic smile.”

The Rampin Head 560 B.C.E. The Rampin Head 560 B.C.E. Why this smile time and time again? Why this smile time and time again?

The sculptures of Archaic Greece convey an idealized vision of humans. The sculptures of Archaic Greece convey an idealized vision of humans. They believed that the human form should be celebrated. They believed that the human form should be celebrated. There was a sense that the individual human was a being of great potential. There was a sense that the individual human was a being of great potential.

Anthropomorphic – in the shape of humans The Greek gods were anthropomorphic, not the other way around… The Greek gods were anthropomorphic, not the other way around… The first civilization to glorify human beings for simply being human and for their individual characteristics rather than for their place in a social or religious order. The first civilization to glorify human beings for simply being human and for their individual characteristics rather than for their place in a social or religious order. Zeus (justice and order)Athena (wisdom and war) Aphrodite (love and beauty) Zeus (justice and order)Athena (wisdom and war) Aphrodite (love and beauty)

There was a belief in Humanism “Man is the yardstick by which all else is measured” Protagoras “Man is the yardstick by which all else is measured” Protagoras

“What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how infinite in faculties, in form and moving how express and admirable, in action how like an angel, in apprehension how like a god! “ From Shakespeare’s Hamlet “What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how infinite in faculties, in form and moving how express and admirable, in action how like an angel, in apprehension how like a god! “ From Shakespeare’s Hamlet The Discobolus 450 B.C.E. (From a later age…we’re on our way!) The Discobolus 450 B.C.E. (From a later age…we’re on our way!)