Theme: “Man is the Measure of All Things” Art of Ancient Greece Theme: “Man is the Measure of All Things”

Mycenaean Culture-what happened? Tribes came from the north Collapsed around 1200 BC “Dark Ages of Greece” Begins to recover around 800 BC reorganization in form of city-states United by language and fear-competitive with one another 400 yrs dark ages of greece. Tribes overthrew Mycenaeans. Mycenaean Culture-what happened?

Who settled in ancient Greece? Dorians-inhabited Greek mainland Ionians-inhabited eastern-most tip of mainland (including Athens), Greek islands and west coast of Anatolia Who settled in ancient Greece?

History of Greek politics City States were foundation of democracy Demos-people + kratos-power= power of the people! Greeks were enlightened in many ways, oppressive in others Patriarchal society that owned slaves City-states warred against each other-not unified as one culture until second invasion of Persians in 480 BCE History of Greek politics

Sacred Oracle at Delphi-divinely inspired priestess would advise on political matters as well personal ones. Greek philosophers often had discussions and debates about government Plato-proposed banning artists, no use other than imitation Greek politics

Beliefs and Social Customs Believed foreigners were barbaric, uncivilized Emphasis on personal psychology and insight Humanity and honoring the individual were of upmost importance Glorified in the perfection of the human body Polytheistic-Gods of Greeks were in human form Had human faults and frailties contrast to Near Eastern societies Beliefs and Social Customs

Philosophy, Science, Math, and Aesthetics were all interrelated in ancient Greece Belief in rituals for the “shade” of dead to pass into underworld of Hades—might wander. Set up grave markers for ID and to pay respects

What were a few of their contributions? Democratic Society Socrates-method of teaching “Socratic Dialogue” Pythagorean theorem Great literary works Homer’s Iliad and The Odyssey Olympics 1st Olympics called Panhellinic Games (all the Greeks) Wars halted to play Coins Hellenes-what Greeks called themselves What were a few of their contributions?

Why is “man the measure of all things?” Greek desire was to create the perfect man through balance of intellectual and physical discipline Thought human body was balanced and harmonious-made it focal point of much of their art Modern idea of individual importance came from Greeks Importance of proportion=measuring Literally measuring to create perfect proportion and figuratively using man as a measure of perfection and importance Why is “man the measure of all things?”

Innovations of Greek sculpture How did Greek sculpture depart from preceding civilizations? Unafraid of nudity. Marble sculptures freed from block. Lost wax casting made metal sculpture larger, lighter and more ambitious. Contrapposto-knees bent, shoulders tilted. Natural way of standing. 1. Gloried in perfection of human body. Mostly male-rare female nudity. Innovations of Greek sculpture

Greek Periods Geometric Period 9th-8th century BCE Orientalizing Period 7th century BCE Archaic Period 600-480 BCE Classical Periods 480-323 BCE Severe or Early Classical 480-450 BCE High Classical/Classical 450-400 BCE Late Classical 400-323 BCE Hellenistic Period 321-31 BCE Greek Periods

Geometric Krater from Dipylon Cemetery 740 BC

3 large registers show funeral of deceased/cremation 3’ tall Krater (mixing bowl) with holes in bottom placed at head of grave for Athenian leader 3 large registers show funeral of deceased/cremation Abstracted art Meander (key pattern) around the vase Purely commemorative-no reference to afterlife Tiny round heads w/ triangular torsos, rectangular arms, single large frontal eye Horses share one body geometric lines and patterns fill all spaces

Man and a Centaur Geometric Period 730 BCE

Influence of Near East in composite creatures 4 ½” Solid cast bronze Inspired by myths Influence of Near East in composite creatures Centaur-half-man and half-horse purely a Greek invention Awkward proportion, stylized, interest in anatomy. Man taller than centaur-signifies sure victory. Nudity***-human body was natural and beautiful

Huge imagery influence from Egypt and other Near Eastern cultures from trade More experimentation and narrative subject matter Black-Figure Painting Black silhouettes on ceramic background Delicate detailing Use of incising Often highlights of purple or white Orientalizing Period

Corinthian Pitcher, 650 BCE. Ceramic with black figure decoration.

Archaic Period Statuary Inspired by Egyptians Cubic, stance, fists, etc. Important differences Freed from stone 1st free-standing monumental sculptures Expressions Love of patterns-esp in hair Most Greek statuary was originally painted using encaustic method (wax and pigment) Archaic Period Statuary

Kouros Archaic 600 BCE Called New York Kouros

Kouros is a standing male nude figure that stood over grave in countryside Replaced vases of Geometric time as grave marker. Sometimes was a votive offering-gift of gratitude to deity

Beginning of Greek quest to create ideal human form Sculptor used 4-sided approach to marble block Large triangular head, slim waist, rigid posture, fists clenched, left leg slightly advanced, life-size

Peplos Kore Archaic 530 BC

Kore is a freestanding, clothed female figure (maiden) Peplos is a long woolen garment makes her look like a column 2 bold innovations Missing arm was extended-representing motion Smiling Archaic smile-curved edges of lips and raised cheekbones Meant to make statues seem more life-like

Archaic Black and Red Figure Vase Painting Archaic Vase Painting: prized and exported due to beauty. Focused on a specific scene instead of using several registers. Mythological subjects. Black figure vases Red clay left untouched Figures and details painted in slip (liquefied clay) and fired to turn black in color Additional details incised with sharp stylus Archaic Black and Red Figure Vase Painting

Red figure vases- Background painted in lustrous black glaze Red clay left unpainted to form design

Achilles and Ajax Playing a Dice game by Exekias Archaic 540 BCE

Exechias was the master of black-figure technique This is a black figure amphora Unparalleled detail. Frontal eye holds onto tradition Form of amphora reflected in backs and in negative space

Achilles and Ajax Playing a Dice Game Andokides Painter, Achilles and Ajax Playing a Dice Game Archaic 520 BC

Bilingual vase painting: same image on both sides, one in black figure and one in red figure Copy of Exechias’ Achilles and Ajax Playing Dice panel- inferior in execution except for experimentation of red figure

Greek Temples Made of limestone and/or marble Early temples resembled Mycenaean megarons (king throne room with throne and 4 columns) Temple was house of god or goddess often placed on a hill or sacred grove. Temple itself NOT for worship Needs and comfort of god #1 priority Greeks worshipped outside at altar which faced rising sun Greek Temples

Cult statue/statue of diety inside Exterior relief sculpture Carved columns added to impressive power of temple Thought of as sculpture

Temple Plans Simple Symmetrical Orderly Proportion varied Width to length 1:3 then later approx. 1:2 Whatever looked good and was harmonious! Temple Plans

One of earliest temple types in Greece is the peripteral temple -temple floor surrounded by colonnade, or row of columns.

Plan of a typical peripteral temple Peripteral Greek Temple Plan of a typical peripteral temple

Cella(naos)-room inside temple that housed the cult statue of deity Pronaos-front porch that came before the cella, open Opisthodomos-rear porch, decorative, for symmetry purposes Anta-extended walls coming off the Pronaos and Opisthodomos/have columns attached

Colonnade options for peripteral temple Design of temple could be…. Prostyle-colonnade across front of temple Amphiprostyle-colonnade across front and back of temple Peristyle-colonnade across all 4 sides of temple Also could choose from type of colonnade rows: Peripteral-Single rows of columns Dipteral-Double rows of columns (usually more elaborate temples) Colonnade options for peripteral temple

Style of the 3 units on front of temple known as an order Orders included (from bottom): Stepped platform-base Colonnade-columns Entablature-Everything above the columns Two main types of orders-Doric and Ionic What is an order?