Ancient Greece

1000 BCE – 323 BCE

Greek Visual Art

Greek visual art is mainly five forms: architecture, sculpture, painting,

pottery and jewelry making

Architecture

• The Greeks developed three architectural systems, called orders, each with their own distinctive proportions and detailing. The Greek orders are: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian.

Doric• 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.

Doric Order Example: The Parthenon

Parthenon

• Parthenon – Dedicated to Athena, Greek goddess of wisdom

ParthenonLocated on the Acropolis in Athens, Greece

Parthenonconstruction began in 447 BCE and was completed in 438 BCE

Ionic• 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.

Ionic Order Example: Temple of Athena Nike

located on the Acroplis, Athens, Greece

Temple of Athena Nike

• Nike means “victory” in Greek• Athena was worshipped in this form, as

goddess of victory in war and wisdom• earliest fully ionic temple on the Acropolis

Temple of Athena NikeCompleted in 480 BCE

Corinthian• 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.

Corinthian Order Example:Temple of Olympian Zeus

Temple of Olympian Zeus• a colossal ruined temple in the center of Athens (the Greek

Capital)• Dedicated to Zeus, king of the Olympian gods

Temple of Olympian Zeus• Began construction in 520 BCE and not finished until 132 AD. A series of

overthrown leaders and war lead to the project being abandoned over and over again…

Sculpture• Classical Art (480 - 323 BC) was created during a "golden age",

from the time Athens rose to prominence and Greek expansion, right up until the death of Alexander the Great.

• The Classical age could be seen as a turning point in art and produced some of the most exquisite sculptures known today.

• It was during this age that sculptors had mastered marble and began creating statues that showed joyous freedom of movement and expression, while celebrating mankind as an independent entity (atomo)

Discobolos (The Discus Thrower) by Myron

Freedom of Movement

• “Anticipation of Action”• realistic figures which emanated the illusion of

moving through space.• three-dimensional snap shots of figures in

action…

Zeus of ArtemisionBronze

Youth of MarathonBronze, circa 340 B.C

• It was the first time in human history that the human body was studied for its aesthetic values, and was treated as an autonomous universe.

• The object of art became the human itself

•In the Classical period all the Greek statues from this time period showed a lack of expression, whereas, the depiction of 'barbarians' show a dramatic facial expression.

This was because the Greeks believed that suppression of the emotions was a noble characteristic of all civilised men, while the public display of human emotion was a sign of barbarism.

Pottery of Ancient Greece

• is a large part of the archaeological record of Ancient Greece, because there is so much of it: over 100,000 vases recorded.

• the shards of pots discarded or buried in the first millennium BC are still the best guide we have to the customary life and mind of the ancient Greeks

• Red- as well as black-figure vases are one of the most important sources of mythology and iconography as well as day to day life of the ancient

Styles of Greek Pottery

Black Figure• 620 BCE to 480 BCE

Red Figure• 530 BCE to late 200 BCE

Black Figure Pottery• Developed in Corinth, Greece• , in contrast to the preceding

black-figure style with black figures on a red background.

Red Figure Pottery

• Developed in Athens, Greece• figures depicted in red color on

a black background

Greek Pottery Typology

Greek Pottery ProcessPlease follow along with notes…

Painting

Jewelry Making