Greek Art and Architecture Greek Sculpture Periods of

Greek Art and Architecture

Greek Sculpture

Periods of Greek Art Archaic (1000 to 480 BC) Classical (480 to 336 BC) Hellenistic (336 BC Forward)

Archaic Period n Characteristics n n Stiff, formal poses Lack of facial expression

Classical Period Tools from Workshop Of Phideas Workshop of Phideas • Greatest sculptor = Phideas, an Athenian • Worked with wood, gold, ivory and bronze • 1958: at workshop, found cup engraved With “I am the property of Phideas”

Famous Classical Sculptures Venus de Milo Hermes and Dionysus “Faun” of Praxiteles Characteristics: subjects were gods / goddesses; more relaxed poses; more realistic nudes

Parthenon Sculptures n n n Phideas’ students sculpted marble statues, decorations after his death Considered world’s greatest ex. of memorial sculpture Currently located in British Museum, displayed as “Elgin Marbles” (stolen in 1816 while ambassador to Ottoman Empire)

Artists’ rendition, interior of Parthenon

Hellenistic Period Dying Gaul Characteristics: pinnacle of Greek realism; Human (not gods) were focus; vivid scenes; drama, emotion ++ Laocoon

Hellenistic Period Winged Victory (Nike) The Discus Thrower

Fate of Greek Sculptures n Few survived the ages n n n Bronze sculptures melted down for their metal 4 th, 5 th C. Christians believed destroying pagan statues was act of faith, piety Burning marble produced lime, used during sieges

Greek Architecture

Architecture n Archaic architecture (1200 -700 BC) n n Built of wood, mud or brick Nothing left except foundations By 700 BC, populations large enough to support public buildings Granite & marble used for temples

Classical Architecture Doric Column Ionian Column Corinthian Column

Classical Architecture - Doric n n Earliest style Formal, austere Spread from Greece to Italy Style n n n Columns tapered No base to column Plain tops

Classical Architecture - Ionian n n More relaxed style Developed in E. Greece, colonies of Asia Minor Dominated Hellenistic period Style n n Straight, thin column Column had base • Standard to have 24 Flutes (grooves) in each column • Two curls to either side of top

Classical Architecture - Corinthian n n Developed by Romans Style n n n Much more ornamental tops (leaves, vines) Ionian curls present Flutes also present

Famous Greek Buildings Lighthouse at Alexandria n 100 -150 m tall; fire by night, mirrors by day n Earthquake, 14 th C AD Colossus at Rhodes • At mouth of harbor • Stood for 54 years before earthquake knocked it down

Famous Greek Buildings Statue of Zeus at Olympus n Earthquake destroyed temple n Statue taken to Constantinople n Burned in riot Temple of Artemis at Ephesus • Built high in mountains w/ temple rising into clouds • 425 feet long, 225 feet wide • 127 columns, 60 feet tall • Destroyed in 262 AD by invading Goths

Parthenon • Built over older temple, around 480 BC (original destroyed when Persians occupied Athens) • Built from 447 to 431 BC • Constructed from limestone, marble • Considered the finest example of Doric architecture in its day • Turned into a Christian church in 6 th C. AD • Then turned into a mosque in early 1460 s • Destroyed in 1687 during siege

Parthenon (Athens) Destruction of Parthenon, 1687 (newspaper sketch, 19 th C. )