Greek Art Ancient Mediterranean Chapter 5

Geometric Period Very typical of this period were large funerary vases designed to hold votive offerings Decoration was primarily abstract forms, flat patterns, outlined shapes that represent various human forms in poses of anguish. Repetition used.

Geometric & Orientalizing After destruction of Mycenaean palaces, the bronze age disintegrated, loss of kings as powerful rulers. Also lost many art forms (how to construct tombs, citadels, frescoes, sculpt with stone) also lost writing and reading. This was deemed the “Dark Age of Greece” Depopulation Poverty Loss of contact with outside world

Geometric Krater, 740bce

Orientalizing Period More and more attention being paid to the human form/body This period was influenced by Eastern works being brought in for trade, as trade was on the rise. Borrowed motifs from Egypt and Near East

Mantiklos Apollo, 700-680bce

26. Athenian Agora, archaic through Hellenistic 600-BCE-150CE (plan) Form Content Function Context Terms Themes

Lady of Auxerre, 650-625bce

The 3 styles of Greek Sculpture Archaic: stiff body pose, feet together, and arms close to the body. Classical: more lifelike body, more natural form with movement, calmness, appearance of the contrapposto pose Hellenistic: evokes emotion, more lifelike detail, greater movement

Archaic Period More sense of permanency, temples built of stone, not mud brick The two orders were used (see handout) Archaic statuary was usually life-size or larger, and painted. Most share an expression “archaic smile”. Possibly used to signify that the subject was still living. Kore/Korai = female youth Kouros/Kouroi = male youth

2 important differences between Archaic Greek and Egyptian sculpture Sculptures of men were unclothed Sculptures were free from the stone in which they were carved

Kouros, 600bce

Moschophorus (Calf Bearer), 560bce

27. Anavyos Kouros, Archaic Greek, marble with paint, 530bce Form Content Function Context Terms Themes

Form Content Function Context Terms Themes 28. Kore, from Peplos, 530bce Form Content Function Context Terms Themes

Kore, from the Acropolis, 520-510bce

Doric Ionic

Doric & Ionic

DORIC v. IONIC Doric Temples are found on Greek mainland. Ionic Temples are found on the islands. Athens is an exception, and you can find many Ionic temples, characteristics in their designs, especially on the Acropolis. Any temple containing a caryatid, is considered Ionic.

Typical Greek Temple Plan

Temple of Hera I, 550bce

West pediment, Temple of Artemis, 600-580bce

Siphnian Treasury, Reconstruction Drawing

Vase Painting Athens was the main location for the production of vases during the archaic period. Black Figure technique used as well as red-figure technique

Andokides Painter, Ajax & Achilles Playing a Game 525-520bce

33. Niobides Krater, anonymous vase painter, 460-450BCE, clay, red figure technique Form Content Function Context Terms Themes

Dying Warrior, top (490 bce)west pediment of Temple Aphaia bottom (480 bce) east pediment of Temple Aphaia

Early Classical Period Early 5th century, Greek city states united to fight the Persian Army, but defeat of Persians came after Athens was already destroyed

Architecture/Architectural Structure Pieces from this period represent a time of transition. Temples more compact, columns more spaced out Pediment Statuary is more life-size and displays a variety of movement and action

Seer, from Temple of Zeus pediment 470 BC

Athena, Herakles, Atlas with Apples from metope Temple of Zeus, 470-465bce

Sculpture New concern to render the human form in natural poses that illustrate how a human usually stands.

Kritios Boy, 480bce

Young Warrior from Riace, 460-450bce

Zeus (or Poseidon?), 460-450bce

Myron, Diskobolos, 450bce

34 Polykleitos, Doryphorus (Spear bearer), 450bce (Roman copy) marble Form Content Function Context Terms Themes

Kresilas, Pericles, 429bce

Form Content Function Context Terms Themes 35. Acropolis. Athens, Greece. Iktinos and Kallikrates. c.447-410 BCE Marble. (6 images) Form Content Function Context Terms Themes

Athens Acropolis Plan

Acropolis, restored view

Parthenon, 447-438bce

Phidias, Athena Parthenos (model)438bce

Helios, horses & Dionysus, pediment at Parthenon

Plaque of the Ergastines

Temple of Athena Nike, 427bce

Nike Adjusting Her Sandal, 410bce

36. Grave Stele of Hegeso, High Classical Form Content Function Context Terms Themes

Late Classical Period Arts continued to flourish despite the defeat by Sparta. Athens never regained their empire status. New art forms (mosaics) flourished as well as new styles (tholos temple)

Praxiteles, Aphrodite, 350-340 bce

Praxiteles, Hermes and Infant Dionysos, 340bce

Lysippos, Apoxyomenos (The Scraper), 330bce

Lysippos, Weary Herakles, 320bce

Hellenistic Period

Form Content Function Context Terms Themes Great Altar of Zeus and Athena at Pergamon, Hellensitic Greek, 175 BCE marble Form Content Function Context Terms Themes

Plan, Great altar of Zeus

Athena battling Alkyoneos 175bce

Dying Gaul, Epigonos, 230bce (altar of zeus)

37. Winged Victory (Nike) of Samothrace, Hellenistic 190bce Form Content Function Context Terms Themes

Venus de Milo 150-125 BC

41. Seated Boxer, Hellenistic Greece, Bronze 100-50 BC Form Content Function Context Terms Themes

Old Market Woman, 150-100 BC

Laocoon sons, Hellenistic

Archaic High Classic Late Classic Hellenistic Polykleitos Praxiteles