Greek Art and Architecture Click mouse to proceed one slide at a time. Follow along with your worksheet to complete the required questions and activities.

Architecture of Ancient Greece Greek life was dominated by religion and so it is not surprising that the temples of ancient Greece built to honor their gods were the biggest and most beautiful. They also had a political purpose as they were often built to celebrate civic power and pride, or to offer thanksgiving to the patron deity of a city for success in war.

Greek Orders The Greeks developed three architectural systems, called orders, each with their own distinctive proportions and detailing. The Greek orders are: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian.                     The Doric style is rather sturdy and its top (the capital), is plain. This style was used in mainland Greece and the colonies in southern Italy and Sicily.                                                           The Ionic style is thinner and more elegant. Its capital is decorated with a scroll-like design (a volute). This style was found in eastern Greece and the islands.                                                              The Corinthian style is seldom used in the Greek world, but often seen on Roman temples. Its capital is very elaborate and decorated with acanthus leaves.

Greek Orders

The Acropolis Acropolis is a Greek word meaning 'high city'. The Athenian Acropolis rises from the plain of Attica to 500 feet above sea level. In times of attack the Acropolis became the last fort of defense. The Acropolis hill, so called the "Sacred Rock" of Athens, is the most important site of the city. The Acropolis contains some of the world's most famous structures built in the classical architectural style.

How does the Lincoln Memorial compare to the Parthenon? Built as a temple of Athena Parthenos ("Virgin") in the Doric Style, the Greek goddess of wisdom on the Acropolis in Athens. The Parthenon was built in the 5th century BC, and despite the enormous damage it has sustained over the centuries, it still communicates the ideals of order and harmony for which Greek architecture is known. How does the Lincoln Memorial compare to the Parthenon?

How does the Jones Beach Theater compare to the Greek Amphitheater? Greek Amphitheatre Greek tragedies and comedies were always performed in outdoor theaters. Early Greek theaters were probably little more than open areas in city centers or next to hillsides where the audience, standing or sitting, could watch and listen to the chorus singing about the exploits of a god or hero. From the late 6th century BC to the 4th and 3rd centuries BC there was a gradual evolution towards more elaborate theater structures, but the basic layout of the Greek theater remained the same. How does the Jones Beach Theater compare to the Greek Amphitheater?

Greek Pottery Beginning in Corinth, and then spreading to Athens, it also led to including more than one animal or plant and eventually made way for human figures. Some of these figures included scenes of warfare. Soon after, potters and painters began to put mythological narration on the pottery, including scenes from the Iliad and other famous legends or myths. These narratives began as mainly violent in nature, but as they progressed they became calmer and involved other scenarios besides warfare.  How do we tell our stories about myths, legends, and historical events?

Sculpture of Ancient Greece Greeks portrayed the gods in very similar fashion as they did the regular humans.  There were no distinctions of size or body make up in their sculpture which would suggest that the gods were greater or more powerful then the humans.  This is also similar in Greek stories, where the gods are shown to have very human characteristics, both good and bad.    How does this cartoon reflect the influence of the Greeks on our culture? Nike, Greek Goddess of Victory The Greeks were blessed with a large supply of marble, which was what they used most in their sculptures.  Bronze was also used in their artistic work of humans.  There are three main periods of Greek Sculpture; Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic.  

Sculpture of Ancient Greece The Archaic period was the earliest period in Greek Sculpture which started around 600 B.C. and lasted until 480 B.C.   These works have a stiff and ridged appearance similar to that of the Egyptian sculpture.     The second period, the Classical period, was between the Archaic and Hellenistic times.  The Classical period shows a very large shift from the stiff Archaic to a more realistic and sometimes idealistic portrayal of the human figure.  Females, after the 5th  century B.C., were depicted nude, often with flowing robes.  The robes gave the sculpture the idea of movement and realism in an effort by the artist to show humans more naturally and realistically.   The third period, the Hellenistic period, started a little before 300 B.C.  To the average person, it is more difficult to see the distinctions between the Classical and Hellenistic period.  Both periods did the majority of their sculpture as nudes.  The Greeks portrayed a young, vigorous, and athletic person in their works.   These works idealized the individual and in a way, attempted to capture the idea of youth and strength in their design.  The works reflect the commonly held views of youth, strength, courage, and beauty which were encouraged in the Greek City states.

Art of Ancient Greece Discobolos c. 450 BC Roman marble copy after the bronze original by Myron height 155 cm (61 in) Museo Nazionale Romano, Rome Compare the statue of Discobolos with the statue of Michael Jordan. How does each civilization portray its athletes? Why?

Art of Ancient Greece Venus de Milo Parian marble, h 2.02 m (6 1/2 ft) Found at Milo 130-120 BC Musee du Louvre, Paris Compare the statue of Venus de Milo with the magazine covers. How has the Greek portrayal of women influenced our culture’s view of women?