Periods in Ancient Greece Archaic ( BCE) Classical ( BCE) Hellenistic ( BCE) Minoan ( BCE) Mycenaean ( BCE) Dark Ages ( BCE)
Archaic Period ( BCE) Inspired by Egypt and Mesopotamia Increasing understanding of human anatomy Early attempts to show human characteristics (“archaic smile”, step forward) Very rigid Kouros : standing nude youth Kore : standing draped girl Seated woman
Charioteer of Delphi Transition period between Archaic and Classical
Classical Period BCE
Classical Art Revolution in statues – associated with introduction of democracy More naturalistic, more variety in forms Depict real people – especially those who overthrew tyranny More decorative sculpture for public and private buildings Meant to depict ideals and “civilize the emotions”
Classical Science Philosophy Socrates, Plato, Aristotle History Herodotus (“The Father of History”), Thucydides Math Pythagoras (scientific ordering of the universe)
Hellenistic Period BCE
Hellenistic Art More diverse, influenced by cultures of peoples conquered under Alexander the Great More naturalistic, realistic Common people become acceptable subjects Sculpture as a “global industry” (for public buildings across the empires)
Hellenistic Science Science Aristarchus (sun as center of universe) Eratosthenes (calculated Earth’s circumference) Euclid ( Elements, geometry textbook) Archimedes (pi, geometry of spheres and cylinders)
Hellenistic Philosophy Epicureanism Human beings are free to follow self-interest as a basic motivating force Happiness is the goal of life and the way to achieve happiness was to pursue pleasure (freedom from worry) Remove self from public life, except for friendship Stoicism Happiness can be found when people gain inner peace by living in harmony with the will of God Public service highly respected
ep·i·cu·re·an (p-ky-rn, -kyr-) adj. 1. Devoted to the pursuit of sensual pleasure, especially to the enjoyment of good food and comfort. 2. Suited to the tastes of an epicure: an epicurean repast. 3. Epicurean Of or relating to Epicurus or Epicureanism. n. 1. A devotee to sensuous and luxurious living; an epicure. 2. Epicurean A follower of Epicurus. sto·ic (stk) n. 1. One who is seemingly indifferent to or unaffected by joy, grief, pleasure, or pain. 2. Stoic A member of an originally Greek school of philosophy, founded by Zeno about 308 b.c., believing that God determined everything for the best and that virtue is sufficient for happiness. Its later Roman form advocated the calm acceptance of all occurrences as the unavoidable result of divine will or of the natural order. adj. also sto·i·cal (--kl) 1. Seemingly indifferent to or unaffected by pleasure or pain; impassive: "stoic resignation in the face of hunger" (John F. Kennedy). 2. Stoic Of or relating to the Stoics or their philosophy.