1. Classical & Hellenistic Greece

2. Classical: 479 BCE (defeat of Persians) to death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE
- Golden Age: 450 – 404 BCE (fall of Athens
to Sparta) - peak of artistic and
philosophical achievements
Hellenistic: 323 BCE death of Alexander the Great to 146 BCE becoming part of Roman empire

3. Essential Classical Beliefs
Reason and order could be achieved
Humans could triumph over the chaos of the natural world, creating a balanced society
Goal of life was perfect balance

4. Humans could achieve order by understanding motives for their actions.
Great confidence in the power of human reason and self-knowledge as important as belief in the gods
Belief in human capability & potential
Parthenon honored goddess Athena but mainly Athens & human achievements there

5. Athens
Political & cultural center of Greece during Golden Age
Most powerful city-state (polis) at end of Persian Wars (479 BCE)
Democratic system was effective and led to stability – all male Athenians required to participate
Pericles elected Athenian leader from 461 to 429 BCE

6. Acropolis

7. Model Reconstruction

8. Parthenon

9. Symbol of Classical Age search for order
40 foot ivory & gold statue of Athena
Few perfectly horizontal or vertical lines
Mainly doric columns

10. Doric, Ionic & Corinthian Columns

11. Parthenon sculpture notable for delicate and realistic drapery that flows with the form and movement of the body
First time in art to see such detail and anatomical precision
Focus on pursuit of naturalism in art

12. The Three Goddesses (British Museum)

13. Detailed Anatomy

14. Temple of Athena Nike (Ionic)

15. Nike = winged victory

16. Nike Adjusting her Sandal – almost transparent drapery

17. Classical Age Art Naturalism, realism
New standard of human beauty: proportion, symmetry & balance
Focus on the individual
- emotional responses
- death and mourning

18. Myron’s Discus Thrower (marble copy)

19. Riace Bronzes (found in sea near Italy)

20. Theater
Theaters considered sacred ground
Attending a theater was taking part in a religious ritual
Plays, music and recitation
Audience threw flowers to praise,
nuts and raisins to criticize

21. Theater of Epidaurus – seats 12,000

22. Empire of Alexander the Great

23. Hellenistic Period
From Alexander the Great’s death in 323 BCE to control by Rome in 146 BCE
Polis = civic pride & highest achievements of Greek culture
BUT, civic pride let to rivalries among polis that ended Greek independence.
4 most important Greek regions fought each other

24. (Similarly, polis seen as focus of political & cultural life in Italian Renaissance: Florence, Siena, Milan, Venice and Verona. Rivalries led to invasions by France or Holy Roman Empire)

25. hellenize” = spread Greek influence
Art became more emotional & expressive
More realistic art, often using common people as subjects & portraying emotion

26. Gradual conquest of Hellenistic kingdoms by Rome
Produced a new synthesis with achievements of Classical & Helenistic Greece fused with native Italian culture