The Archaic Period 620 to 490/80 BCE

The Archaic Period was the time when Aesop was writing his fables as a Greek slave. Artists competed for commissions by wealthy individuals and city council members. Commissions included temples, shrines, government buildings, monumental sculpture, and ceramic wares.

Temple Architecture 2 Greek standard elevation designs (columns) emerged: –1.Doric –2.Ionic

Temple of Hera I, Paestum, Italy 550 BCE 50 miles south of modern day Naples Stone post and lintel structure What type of columns?

Architectural Sculpture High relief: 3-D image or design whose flat background surface is carved away to a high depth. Caryatids: columns carved in the form of draped women.

Gorgon Medusa West pediment of the Temple of Artemis, Korkya, 580 BCE, Limestone. Example of ______?

Treasury of the Siphnians Built in the Sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi BCE

The continuous frieze and pediment show high relief This slide depicts, “Gods and the Giants,” which is one of the earliest movements towards a more natural representation of space. This is a narrative scene with a groundline and the overlapping characters create depth.

Dying Warrior, Doric Temple of Aphaia at Aegina 480 BCE, Marble Cleverly designed to hit in the corner of the pediment.

Freestanding Sculpture Lifesize of larger, these sculptures would be standing or in stride with one foot in front of the other. Brightly painted (even though we can’t see it anymore) Kore: female statue Kouros: male statue

Standing Youth (Kouros) 580 BCE, Marble Attica, Greece Echoes the style of Egypt with regard to rigid arms, clenched fists, and the forward stride. Artist is interested in capturing anatomy. Hair is patterned with consistent knots. Archaic smile: close-lipped smile specific to the Greek Archaic period

Kroisos Kouros Cemetery at Anavysos, Athens 530 BCE, Marble Powerful, round body A continual interest in artist’s rendering the human body with more detail Stride, arms, fists, hair, and archaic smile

Berlin Kore Cemetery at Keratea, Athens BCE, Marble <6 ft. tall Texture of drapery echoes the indentions of flutes. Holding a pomegranate, the attribute for Persephone, who was abducted by Hades.

Peplos Kore Acropolis, Athens 530 BCE, Marble peplos: garment, draped rectangular cloth Motionless, vertical, stylized hair More of a feminine figure compared to Berlin Kore.

Kore (from Chios?) 520 BCE, Marble Rich drapery, softer features, and life- like anatomy Chiton: like a peplos, but fuller of ornate detail

Calf Bearer Acropolis, Athens 560 BCE Archaic smile, tufted hair, wide- open eyes Cow is depicted with perceptive detail in relation to the twisting position.

Archaic Vase Painting During the Archaic period, Athens = center for manufacture and trade for pottery. Athens adopted the Corinthian black- figure style.

Francois Vase, 570 Black-figure on volute-krater One of the earliest examples of where the potter and painter signed work.

Dionysos and Maenads, Amphora Amphora: all purpose storage jar Amasis painter, distinctive patterning and strong shapes, figures disregard real space (opposite of the high relief on frieze at Treasury of Siphnians)

Suicide of Ajax, 540 BCE black-figure on amphora, by painter Exekias Considered the finest of Athenian vase painters, took subjects from Greek history

Ajax Ajax was a fearless warrior, only behind Achilles. Tree on the left and shield on the right encapsulates the contemplative scene. Balance.

Priam Painter, Women at a Fountain House Hydria: water jug BCE Black figure on hydria Priam depicted everyday life, doric columns, contrast btw porcelain skin vs. black peplos

Introduction of red-figure decoration was Introduced in the last 3rd of the 6th century. If you can read this, stand up

Death of Sarpedon, red-figure on calyx krater, painted by Euphronios. Balance Balance between vertical and horizontal lines.

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