Classical & Hellenistic Greece

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

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

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

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

Acropolis

Model Reconstruction

Parthenon

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

Doric, Ionic & Corinthian Columns

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

The Three Goddesses (British Museum)

Detailed Anatomy

Temple of Athena Nike (Ionic)

Nike = winged victory

Nike Adjusting her Sandal – almost transparent drapery

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

Myron’s Discus Thrower (marble copy)

Riace Bronzes (found in sea near Italy)

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

Theater of Epidaurus – seats 12,000

Empire of Alexander the Great

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

(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)

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

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