1. Art of Ancient Greece
The term Ancient Greece refers to the period of Greek history lasting from the Greek Dark Ages ca BC and the Dorian invasion, to 146 BC and the Roman conquest of Greece after the battle of Corinth.
It is generally considered to be the seminal culture which provided the foundation of Western civilization. Greek culture had a powerful influence on the Roman Empire, which carried a version of it to many parts of Europe.
3) The civilization of the ancient Greeks has been immensely influential on the language, politics, educational systems, philosophy, science, and arts, giving rise to the Renaissance in Western Europe and again resurgent during various neo-Classical revivals in 18th and 19th century Europe and the Americas.

2. Art of Ancient Greece Important Types of Greek Construction/Terms
1) Shaft
2) Lintel/Architrave
3) Column
4) Capitol
5) Entablature
6) Frieze
7) Cornice
8) Pediment
9) Stylobate
10) Ranking Cornice

3. Art of Ancient Greece
The Three Orders of Decorative Style

4. The Three Orders of Decorative Style
Art of Ancient Greece
The Three Orders of Decorative Style
The Doric Order
The principle feature is a simple, heavy column without a base, topped by a broad, plain capitol.
a) The Parthenon was built using this style.

5. The Three Orders of Decorative Style
Art of Ancient Greece
The Three Orders of Decorative Style
The Ionic Order These columns had an elaborate base and a capitol carved into double scrolls that looked like the horns of a ram.
a)This style was more elegant than the Doric order.
b)This style was suitable from small temples.
c)Was later used on lager structures: EX. Erechtheum-which is located near the Parthenon and contained the famous porch, “Porch of Maidens”
d) Temple of Athena Nike was built using this style.

6. Art of Ancient Greece

7. Art of Ancient Greece The Corinthian Order
This style of capitol is elongated and decorated with leaves.
a) Most elaborate of a 3 orders
b) This style was originally used on only columns inside of a building, but later was used on the outside as well.
c)The Monument of Lysicrates is a great example of this style.

8. Art of Ancient Greece

9. Art of Ancient Greece
Famous Greek Architecture
The Acropolis

10. Famous Greek Architecture: The Acropolis
Art of Ancient Greece
Famous Greek Architecture: The Acropolis
Is a mass of rock that rises abruptly 500ft above the city.
2) This erected city on the hill was like a giant pedestal that symbolized the glory of Athens.
The Acropolis is made up of several buildings that included: temples, statues, massive flights of stairs.
The western border is where the huge statue of Athena is located. Her spear served as a signal to ships at sea.
The statue of Athena was created by the famous sculptor Phidias.
6) The Acropolis, though mostly in ruins, still stands today and is a great reminder of a great civilization.

11. Art of Ancient Greece

12. Art of Ancient Greece
Famous Greek Architecture
The Parthenon

13. Art of Ancient Greece Famous Greek Architecture
The Parthenon
1. Pericles, the Athenian leader, used funds from the treasury of the Delian League to build the Parthenon.
2. It took 10 years to complete the Parthenon.
3. This structure represented the Greek Architecture to the fullest with the use of: a) post-and-lintel construction
b) Sloping or gabled roof
c) Colonnade
4. Its a simple rectangular building placed on a 3 stepped platform.
5. It contained 2 rooms: 1)Had the Treasury of the Delian League (smaller room), 2) Contained a large gold/ivory statue of Athena (larger room).

14. Art of Ancient Greece
Famous Greek Architecture
The Parthenon
6) Religious ceremonies were held outside in front of the Parthenon by the people of Athens.
7) Not many people were allowed in the Parthenon, so because of this, there was NO need for windows or interior decorations.
8.) All the attention was placed on the exterior of the building:
a) Bright colors were used to paint the structure.
b) Blues, reds, greens and yellows were used.
c) Gold was used for detailed purposes.
9) Much of the exterior decorations have since worn away due to weather exposure.

15. Art of Ancient Greece
Famous Greek Architecture
Temple of Athena Nike

16. Art of Ancient Greece Famous Greek Architecture Erechtheum
Porch of the Maidens

17. Art of Ancient Greece Famous Greek Architecture Temple of Athena Nike
Built on the Acropolis between BC
It was a place of worship.
It was much smaller then many of the other buildings on the Acropolis.
Nike means “Victory” and the Greeks worshipped Athena as the goddess of wisdom.
5) It’s style was Ionic and a four column structure.

18. Art of Ancient Greece Famous Greek Architecture Erechtheum
It’s a temple located directly opposite the Parthenon.
Erechtheus was a legendary king of Athens who was supposedly the foster son of Athena.
This building was unique because it had two porches, one larger than the other.
One of these porches is known as the “Porch of the Maidens”
The roof of the “Porch of the Maidens” is supported by six caryatids or columns carved to look like female figures.

19. Art of Ancient Greece Four Major Greek Styles
Geometric Style( BCE) Vases, etc. were decorated in Geometric style exhibit painted horizontal bands filled with patterns: bands covering the entire vase or object usually had triple lines dividing patterned zones at regular intervals.

20. Art of Ancient Greece
Archaic Style( BCE) Greek artists try to achieve realistic likeness in picturing the human figure, and the statues are a far cry from the extremely abstract figures of the geometric style which preceded. In fact, the statues show the influence of Egyptian art in its stiffness, gracefulness, and idealization.

21. Art of Ancient Greece
Classical Style( BCE) Is characterized by a joyous freedom of movement, freedom of expression, and it celebrates mankind as an independent entity. Artist’s worked in expressing the human figure in a more naturalistic manner.

22. Art of Ancient Greece
Hellenistic Style( BCE) This era expanded it’s formal horizons with dramatic posing, sweeping lines, and high contrast of light, shadow and emotions. The conventions and rules of the classical period gave way to the experimentation and a sense of freedom that allowed the artist to explore his subjects from different unique points of view.

23. Art of Ancient Greece
GEOMETRIC PERIOD:
Votive offerings of bronze and terracotta, and painted scenes on monumental vessels attest to a renewed interest in figural imagery that focuses on funerary rituals and the heroic world of aristocratic warriors and their equipment.
The armed warrior, the chariot, and the horse are the most familiar symbols of the Geometric period.
Surviving material shows a mastery of the major media—turning, decorating, and firing terracotta vases; casting and coldworking bronze; engraving gems; and working gold.

24. Art of Ancient Greece
The only significant medium that had not yet evolved was that of monumental stone sculpture—large-scale cult images most likely were constructed of a perishable material such as wood.
Instead, powerful bronze figurines and monumental clay vases manifest the clarity and order that are, perhaps, the most salient characteristics of Greek art.

25. Art of Ancient Greece Archaic Style
GREEK VASE WORK
Vases during this period started out as being decorated with bands of simple geometric patterns which included: triangles, lines and simple stick figures. (Geometric Period)
Many of the vases were used in much the same way as tombstones are used today as grave markers.

26. Art of Ancient Greece
In pottery, the Archaic period sees the development of the Orientalizing style , which signals a shift from the Geometric Style of the later Dark Ages.
Later on, many of the figures were added to these vases. Many of the figures appear on either side that represents the deceased.
5) Over time, these vases became more life like and began to tell stories.
EXAMPLE: Vase with Ajax and Achilles Playing Dice
This vase was created by the artist Exekias

27. Art of Ancient Greece Vase with Ajax and Achilles Playing Dice
1) This particular vase was created by the artist Exekias.
2) It’s an image of 2 Greek generals playing a board game.
3) They story is set up like a modern day comic strip.
4) They are having a verbal conversation between each other.
5) They are so immersed in their game, for a brief moment they have forgotten they are at war and they are two ordinary people lost in a friendly board game.

28. Art of Ancient Greece Exekias’ Use of Realism
Exekias wanted to make his vase design (Ajax and Achilles) seem as realistic as possible.
2) He carefully drew in the facial features, hands and feet, even though the eyes have an Egyptian art feel to them.
3) His particular design and layout complements the vase he painted it on:
Example 1: The curved backs of the figures follow the curves of the vase.
Example 2: The lines of the spears continue the lines of the two handles and then carry the viewers eye to the board game.
4) The board game is the Focal Point (or) Emphasis of the art piece.
5) During this time artists used less and less of the once popular Geometric Style and also artists began signing their work.
*This showed their pride for their work.

29. Art of Ancient Greece
Vase with Ajax and Achilles Playing Dice

30. Art of Ancient Greece http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88gXWW3qN7o
Learning the Importance of Greek sculptures : WHY and HOW they were created:

31. Art of Ancient Greece Archaic Period Sculpture
1) Sculpture in limestone and marble, terra cotta, bronze, wood and rarer metals was used to adorn temples and funerary monuments both free-standing and in relief. The themes were mythical or from daily life. Life-size statues began suddenly at about 650 BC.
2) During the period, the major sculptural forms were the kouros and its female equivalent the kore.

32. Art of Ancient Greece Greek Sculptures: Archaic Period
1) Sculptors during this period concentrated on carving large, freestanding figures known as: a) Kouroi-Plural form of Kouros meaning youth.
b) Korai- Plural form of Kore meaning maiden.

33. Art of Ancient Greece
Greek Sculptures: Archaic Period

34. Art of Ancient Greece Kouros Sculpture
1) This was a sculpture of a male youth who was either a god or an athlete.
2) It resembles Egyptian sculptures in that it has a stiff and stright pose.
For Example: Both legs are flat on the ground.
3) Sculptors later learned how to fix this pose to look more natural and relaxed by bending and twisting their figures.
4) Details of hair, eyes, mouth and chest are exactly alike on both sides which is another similar feature to Egyptian art.

35. Art of Ancient Greece Kouros Sculpture
5) A Greek style incorporated is the separation of the arms from the body and the open space between the legs.
6) There is a debate that this sculpture represents the sun god Apollo (or) he is a great athlete.
7) His facial features are unusual to Greek sculpture in that there’s the appearance of A) bulging eyes, B) square chin and C) a mouth with slightly up turned corners.
8) Sculptors during this time, wanted their sculptures to look more natural and THE USE OF A SMILE WAS A STEP IN THAT DIRECTION!

36. Art of Ancient Greece

37. Art of Ancient Greece Hera of Samos
The Hera of Samos was a female sculpture which is also known as a Korai.
Korai were clothed women, often goddesses that were carved during the Archaic Period.
She looks like a stone cylinder and she has the same stiff pose as the Kouros. BUT the one arm is held lightly against the body and the feet are placed very close together.
There are NO open spaces or separation like the Kouros, BUT there is the use of a surface pattern (lines) which adds textural interest.
The folds in the garment gently follows the subtle curves of the figure.
This statue is roughly 6 ft in height and was an impressive symbol of authority and dignity.

38. Art of Ancient Greece
Hera of Samos

39. Art of Ancient Greece The Classical Period
Art Historians today divide this period into three phases, based on the formal qualities of the art:
1) Early Classical Period ( BCE)
2) Mature Classical Period ( BCE)
3) Late Classical Period ( BCE)

40. Art of Ancient Greece The Classical Period
1) The Early Classical period is deemed to have begun after Athens’ double defeat of the Persian invaders in 490 and 479 BC but a new feeling of self-confidence was already in the air about 500 BC, possibly as a result of the firm establishment of democracy in Athens 10 years earlier.
2) By now the Archaic color and pattern were gone from vase painting, to be replaced by sobriety and dignity....
This brief period is more than a mere transition from Archaic to Classical; in the figurative arts a distinctive style developed, in some respects representing as much of a contrast with what came afterward as with what went before.
3) Its name—Severe style—is in part an indication that the “prettiness” of Archaic art, with its patterns of drapery and its decisive action,...

41. Art of Ancient Greece
Early Classical Period Art (Sculpture)

42. Art of Ancient Greece GREEK VASE WORK
1) Geometric Style 2) Archaic Style
3) Classical Style 4) Hellenistic Style
**Focused more on sculptures and
steered away from the vase paintings.

43. Art of Ancient Greece Greek Sculpture: Classical Period
During this period, sculptors became more BOLD and SKILLFUL in that they did away with straight, stiff poses and made their figures appear to move in space.
Myron’s Discus Thrower is a perfect example of this.

44. Art of Ancient Greece Myron’s Discus Thrower
1) Another name for this sculpture is Discobolus which was created by the sculptor: Myron.
Myron did a wonderful job of doing away with the old blocky and rigid poses and replaced it with a “athletic action.”
Myron was known for creating his sculptures out of bronze and he NEVER worked with marble, although most of his art pieces are marble reproductions produced during Roman times.
Most of the ancient Greek’s sculptures were either destroyed, melted down, lost or ruined so the sculptures you see today were made later on by the Romans.

45. Art of Ancient Greece Sculptures from the Acropolis
Phidias was responsible for many of the Greek sculptures you see today. He was one of the greatest Greek sculptors and creator of the 2nd sculpture to be discussed: Athena Parthenos
Phidias also took part in creating other decorations for the Parthenon, in the form of a frieze, which included 350 people and 125 horses in relief sculpture form. It was in honor of the parade they held every 4 years to celebrate Athena.
a) Procession of Horsemen is a small example of Phidias’ relief sculptures.
b) This work is a great example of movement because of Phidia’s use of light and shadow carved into the drapery and negative space.

46. Art of Ancient Greece Athena Parthenos It stood at 42 feet.
Her skin was made of the whitest ivory
One ton of gold was used to fashion her armor and garments
Precious stones were used for eyes and as other decorations.
A full scale re-creation is located Nashville, TN.

47. Art of Ancient Greece Nike Fastening her Sandal
This is a relief sculpture found in the Temple of Athena Nike.
It was created by an unknown sculptor.
She is bending down to fasten her sandal.
Another great example of movement is strongly shown in the carved drapery.
You can CLEARLY see the amazing strides Greek sculptors have made within 150 year period when comparing this sculpture with Hera of Samos.

48. Art of Ancient Greece
Nike Fastening her Sandal

49. Art of Ancient Greece Polyclitus’s Spear Bearer
Polyclitus was another famous Greek Sculptor from the Classical Period.
He was famous for introducing the form called Contrapposto. (pg. 183)
He specialized in creating sculptures of youthful athletes.
EX. Doryphoros=Spear Bearer.
This sculptor is a great example of Contrapposto because:
a) The left leg is bent and the toes lightly touch the ground.
b) The body is slightly turned to show movement so it looks more life like.
c) The right hip and left shoulder are raised.
d) The head is tipped forward and turns to the right.
e) Action is kept to a minimum but the sculpture exudes
athletic strength.

50. Art of Ancient Greece
Polyclitus’s Spear Bearer

51. Art of Ancient Greece Hellenistic Period: Sculptures
1) This was a period when Greek culture and non-Greek culture’s were blended with the help of Alexander the Great because he admired Greek culture so much he wanted to spread the culture world wide.
Sculptors during this period were extremely skillful and confident.
They created dramatic and often violent sculptures made of bronze and marble.
Sculptors were very interested in faces because they can hold so much emotion.
Emotional expression was more important than beauty. Whereas Classical sculpture focused on balance and harmony.
A great example of this new style is the sculpture: A Dying Gaul

52. Art of Ancient Greece The Dying Gaul
1)This sculpture was originally made from bronze.
2) It was created as a celebratory monument of a victory over the Gauls –which were fierce warriors from the north.
3) This sculpture is the is the final moments of a Gaul who was fatally wounded in battle.
4) The sculptor goes to great lengths to incorporate details which include: flowing blood, open wound, pain in the face through distorted features.
5) As a viewer, you are meant to become involved in the drama of a dying Gaul. The sculptor wants you to share and feel his pain and loneliness right before he dies.

53. Art of Ancient Greece
The Dying Gaul

54. Art of Ancient Greece Nike of Samothrace
This sculpture was created to celebrate a naval victory.
It’s a sculpture of a winged Nike=goddess of victory.
The way it was created gave it a look as if it were part of the bow of a ship.
The details in her garments portray (or) imply the ocean breeze is whipping through her garments.
This immense detail implies movement-as if she were really standing on the front of the ship.
It was discovered in 1875 on a hillside in Samothrace with NO head or arms and in 118 pieces.

55. Art of Ancient Greece
Nike of Samothrace

56. Art of Ancient Greece The Seated Boxer
This is a bronze sculpture that was discovered on Rome.
This is a sculpture of a young but mature athlete (a boxer) resting after suffering a brutal loss.
The details of the swollen nose, battered checks, scratches and sweat are very apparent and really shows the skill(s) of the artist.
There’s no mistake that the joyless expression on his face shows he infact, lost.

57. Art of Ancient Greece

58. Art of Ancient Greece
Drastic Changes in Greek Sculptures
**The growth of Greek sculpture can be traced through an examination of the gods, goddesses and athletes created from the Archaic period to the Hellenistic.
1) Sculptured figures produced during the Archaic Period were solid and stiff. Ex. Kouros and Korai.

59. Art of Ancient Greece Drastic Changes in Greek Sculptures
2) During the Classical Period, sculptors had achieved near perfection in balance, proportion and sense of movement.
Ex. The Discus Thrower
* A later Classical work, The Spear Bearer, is a great example of balance, harmony and beauty.
3) The Hellenistic Period brought sculptures that reflected very dramatic and emotional art pieces.
Ex. The Seated Boxer

60. Art of Ancient Greece