Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
1
Hellenistic Period (338 – 30 BC)
King Philip II of Macedon organized a great army during the fighting amongst the poleis By 338 BC Philip II dominated all of Greece except Sparta Alexander the Great, the son of Philip II continued territorial expansion Unified the Greek poleis to defeat the Persians Created and empire that ranged from the Mediterranean to the Indian frontier Empire divided after death and Hellenistic monarchies created Cultural expansion known as Hellenism
2
Empire of Alexander the Great
3
The empire of Alexander the Great
4
The Breakup of Alexander’s Empire
5
Social and Political Organization
Political Systems Oligarchy Democracy Athenian Democracy Assembly (Ecclesia) Council of 500 (Boule) Magistrates Spartan Oligarchy Assembly of Equals (Apella) Council (Gerouisa) Two Kings Magistrates (Ephors)
6
categories of non-citizens?
Social pyramid in Ancient Greece What were the three categories of non-citizens?
7
Greek democracy: an assembly
All male citizens had the freedom to speak. Voting was usually by a show of hands. A speaker expressed his ideas from the tribunal. A water clock, called a clepsydra, marked time.
8
Greek Religion Polytheistic Tolerance for religious diversity
No single truth or code Produced no sacred, written text like the Bible or the Qur’an Different cities worshipped different deities Virtues fostered by Greek religion were chiefly respect for the gods Seek to understand their will Most widespread public act of worship was sacrifice Grain or animal offered Temples were home of the diety
9
Greek Mythology Mythology formed a central reference point in Greek society Stories about the origins and actions of Greek divinities varied widely Depended on where the tale appeared comedy, tragedy or epic poem Greek gods resembled human beings in their form and in their emotions Lived in a society that resembled human society in its levels of authority and power Crucial difference existed between gods and human beings: Humans died, and gods were immortal Heroes also played an important role Stories about them conveyed serious themes Felt connected to human heroes from the past
10
Purposes of Greek Myths
1. Explained the world Lent structure and order to the world Origin of current state of things Pandora released diseases & miseries upon world Origin of rituals - Prometheus outwits Zeus in first sacrifice 2. Exploration of human emotions and moral behavior Examining contradictions and ambiguities Explore social questions by placing them, in extreme and exaggerated form
11
Purposes of Greek Myths
3. Provided authority and legitimacy Myths were regarded as history rather than allegory Gave authority to a claim, an action, or a relationship City-states and aristocratic families often traced their ancestry back to the heroes or gods Validation of the identity and culture of individual communities 4. Provided entertainment Public performances of drama were hugely popular
12
Greek Culture Foundation of Western Culture
Science, mathematics, physics, medicine, history, philosophy, literature, theater, comedy, fables Aristotle Plato Socrates Herodotus Archimedes Aristophanes Hypocrates Pythagoras Homer Sophocles Aesop Euripides
13
Architecture Parthenon Greek for "Virgin Temple" Athens’ Acropolis
Extraordinarily expensive Represent grandeur Paid for by tribute from Delian League 20,000 tons of marble Architects and sculptors from all over Greece Phidias – designer 15 years to complete 40 foot high statue of Athena 500 foot long frieze – celebration of Athenian values Elgin Marbles in British Museum
14
A Greek temple architrave cornice shaft capital stylobate frieze pediment
15
Slender fluted column Architecture: the three orders in Greek art
Doric order Western Greece Simplest, with plain, round capitals Ionic order Eastern Greece Slender, fluted pillars Two opposed volutes (scrolls) on capital Corinthian order Most ornate of the Greek orders Slender fluted column Capital carved with two rows of leaves and four scrolls
16
Sculpture Marble & Bronze
Human form the most important subject for artistic endeavour Gods in human form No distinction between the sacred & secular in art Immensely influential on Western art Renaissance Classical revival Little has survived, mostly in Roman copies Sculpture not merely for artistic display Public memorials, temples, grave markers, decorative friezes
17
Periods of Greek sculpture
Archaic Kore ENLARGE Classical Discobolus ENLARGE Hellenistic Laocoon ENLARGE
18
The Archaic period: kore
Two main types: kore: female figure kouros: male figure Rigid and unnatural Classical Discobolus ENLARGE Hellenistic Laocoon ENLARGE
19
The Classical period: Discobolus
Archaic Kore ENLARGE Classical Discobolus Discobolus by Myron Ideal beauty Hellenistic Laocoon ENLARGE
20
The Hellenistic period: Laocoon
Archaic Kore ENLARGE Laocoon, a Trojan priest Classical Discobolus ENLARGE Hellenistic Laocoon Emotional and dramatic
21
Pottery The Vase - great artistic legacy
Pottery made for everyday use, not for display - drinking & storage Freshness & naturalness to art Potters not a respected profession factories in Athens prostitute district tried to outdo each other other Corinth & Athens dominate trade Pottery exported all over the Greek world Many mass-produced & low quality Greek pottery frequently signed by the potter, not artist
22
Pottery Pottery Types: amphorae
kraters (bowls for mixing wine & water) hydria (water jars) Kylix – wine cup libation bowls, jugs Historical styles Protogeometric from about 1050 BC Geometric from about 900 BC decorated with abstract designs Black Figure from tearly 7th century BC red and white details and incising for outlines and details Red Figure from about 530 BC pots being painted black & the figures painted in red
Similar presentations
