Greek & Roman Art 2000 BC

GREECE: The Birthplace of Western Civilization Ancient Greece Map Modern Greece Map

Brief History of Ancient Greece Begins around 2000 BC Early primitive people entered the land and remained Culture was known as Mycenaean but was overtaken by stronger tribes Dorians took over changing life and co-mingling with the Mycenaean Towns grew into “city-states” that were independent unlike other empires Landscape added to this independence because of the terrain of mountains, valley and the sea This contributed to keeping the Greek city-states from forming a nation Rivalry among the city-states but none conquered the other Fear from Persia (Iran) united them long enough to fight the invaders during the 5th century. Suspecting more invasions, several city-states formed an alliance (where the smaller cities gave money. Because Athens was the most powerful member, it was the permanent head. Pericles, the Athenian leader began to use the money to rebuild & beautify Athens His actions were resented (especially Sparta) which led to the Peloponnesian War in 431 BC Because of terrible plague 1/3 of Athenians died and eventually so did Pericles. Athens was defeated which led to 100years of conflict among city-states eventually collapsing to foreign invaders in 338 BC During all of this, the Greek people made important contributions to art in architecture, temples, and of course, philosophy

The Parthenon: The Parthenon, Acropolis Athens, Greece c. 447 BC Parthenon Proposed Model

Khan Academy: Parthenon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWDflkBZC6U

Greek Vase Decoration Figures on Greek vases were often set in storytelling scenes Narrative art Although used as jugs, later they were used as “funeral vases” such as modern gravestones or tombstones Funerary Vase, Athens, Greece, c. 8th century BC, Terra cotta, 42 5/8” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY.

Greek Sculpture: Evolution to Greatness Sculpture in the Archaic Period (600 – 480 BC_ Concentrated on carving large, freestanding figures. KOUROS – which means “male youth” Kouros, 530 BC, Marble, 6’7” The J. Paul Getty Museum, Malibu, CA

Khan Academy on Kouros https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ancient-art-civilizations/greek- art/daedalic-archaic/v/kouros-youth-archaic-greek-c-590-580-b-c-e

Greek Sculpture: Classical Abandoned straight, stiff poses Figures appeared to move. Roman bronze reduction of Myron's Discobolus, 2nd century AD (Glyptothek, Munich)

Hellenistic Sculpture: After the Peloponnesian War https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ancient-art-civilizations/greek- art/hellenistic/v/nike-winged-victory-of-samothrace-c-190-b-c-e Winged Victory of Samothrace, 190 BC, Parian marble, 96”, The Louvre, Paris, France. The Winged Victory of Samothrace, discovered in 1863, is conventionally thought to have been made to celebrate a naval victory in 190 BC.

The History of The Parthenon KHAN ACADEMY: THE Parthenon https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ancient-art-civilizations/greek- art/classical/v/parthenon

ROMAN ART: Copiers of Greek Art Romans took over Greece Established a Republic government Eventually controlled territory from Britain to Mesopotamia The Roman Empire Map

Roman “Plagiarism” Admired Greek art Brought Greek artist to Rome to work from them DIFFERENCES More realistic Greek sculpture were public monuments; however, Roman sculpture was for private patrons. Remind them of specific individuals Romans wanted the facial features and expression to show character Commissioned portraits of heads rather than the entire figure; whereas, the Greeks felt like a “bust”—the head and shoulders—were incomplete

Roman Portrait Sculpture Bust of a Man, 50 BC, 14 1/6” x 7 1/16”, Terracotta, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston MA.

Roman Architecture: Roman Amphitheatre Round Arch—a wall or another arch is needed to counter the outward force of the arch Keystone—top stone of the arch holding other stones in place Barrel Vault—a half-round stone ceiling made by placing a series of round arches from front to back.

PANTHEON: The Pantheon  is a former Roman temple, now a church, in Rome, Italy, on the site of an earlier temple commissioned by Marcus Agrippa during the reign of Augustus (27 BC – 14 AD). T The present building was completed by the emperor Hadrian and probably dedicated about 126 AD. He retained Agrippa's original inscription, which has confused its date of construction as the original Pantheon burnt down so it is not certain when the present one was built.[2]

PANTHEON: 118-128 AD, Roman Temple. Rome, Italy

PANTHEON: YOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=305niNDG8c4

Roman Amphitheatre: Arles, France, 1st Century AD.

Roman Baths: Baths were vast enclosed structures that contained libraries, lecture rooms, gymnasiums, shops, restaurants and walkways. Social and cultural center as well as a place for hygiene. Every Roman city had its baths. Series of rooms with pools of progressively cooler water: the caldarium to the frigidarium Roman Baths, Bath, England, First Century AD.

Roman Sports: The Colosseum Named after a colossal statue of the Roman emperor Nero that once stood nearby 72-80 AD Covered 6 acres For chariot races and armed contests. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ancient-art- civilizations/roman/early-empire/v/colosseum-amphitheatrum-flavium-c- 70-80-c-e-rome

The Colesseum The Colosseum, Rome, Italy, 72-80

Decline Power of Rome Transfer of the capitol from Rome to the ancient Greek city of Byzantium— renamed Constantinople. Marked the beginning of the Byzantine Empire Eventually invaders from the north overtook Rome after wave after wave of barbarian invasions. By the end of the 5th century, the Western Roman Empire had come to an end and the barbarian kingdoms of the Middle ages took place.