Hellenistic Architecture in
Pergamon, Greece
HOW DO BUILDINGS AND ARCHITECTURAL
PROGRAMS EXPRESS THE VALUES (values
can be cultural, social or religious) AND
POLITICAL AGENDAS OF THEIR PATRONS?
• THE PERGAMON
ACROPOLIS
• Acropolis of a large and wealthy city
with a diverse, non-Greek population
• Included palaces, temples,
gymnasiums and markets
• City became known as a 2nd Athens
• At the very top was the palace of the
Pergamon king
• Monarchy towers above all else
• Pomp and display of the Hellenistic
city was a departure from austere
Athenian acropolis
• Monuments erected to honor the
kings and glorify not the city but
individuals
DYING GAUL
What are the facts? (F)
Artist: Epigonos
Patron: King Attalus I
Date: 200 BCE
Period/Style: Hellenistic Greece
Size: 3’ ½”
Location / findspot: Pergamon Acropolis
SUBJECT MATTER
War with the Gauls
MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES
Original Bronze
Marble Copy exists
CA: WHY WAS IT CREATED
1. PHYSICAL LOCATION
Pergamon Acropolis: Courtyard
below royal palace
2. PATRON
King Attalus
4. HISTORICAL EVENTS
Victory over the nomadic Gauls – a
constant threat to Greece.
5. Big Ideas: Drama, Individualism,
Focus on the human experience
and pain of the individual
FUNCTION: Victory caused the King
to beautify the city. Statues are a
commemoration. The Gaul’s
strength in death makes the victory
over them more impressive
How is the subject matter
visually represented?
How is the meaning/function
visually conveyed (FA)
-
-
The Gaul’s strength in death makes the
victory over them more impressive
Mortally wounded, struggling against
death
Eyes fixed on the ground, looking at his
sword and trumpet (used to sound call for
relief)
Support himself weakly with one arm
Gaping wound on one side
Anguished expression on his face
Rough musculature of body marks his
barbarism
Detail is individualistic and realistic
While the citizens would rejoice at his
defeat they were meant to also
sympathize with him and thus get
involved in the drama
Altar of Zeus
What are the facts? (F)
Artist: NA
Patron: King Eumenes II
Date: 200 BCE
Period/Style: Hellenistic Greece
Size: 3’ ½”
Location / findspot: Pergamon Acropolis
SUBJECT MATTER
Altar of worship for Zeus, commemorating
the Hellenistic struggle against the
barbarians.
MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES
Marble (only copy exists)
CA: WHY WAS IT CREATED
1. PHYSICAL LOCATION
Pergamon Acropolis
2. PATRON
King Eumenes II
4. HISTORICAL EVENTS: DEPICTED IN
THE FRIEZE: Allegory for the war
between Pergamens and the Gauls
Continuing the tradition of celebrating
Greeks’s struggles against, and victories
over barbarians. Pergamons are the
Gods, Gauls are the Giants
5. Big Ideas: Drama and the appeal to
the emotions
FUNCTION: Commemoration of
triumph and Glory of the Hellenistic
Monarchy
How is the subject matter
visually represented?
How is the meaning/function
visually conveyed (FA)
-
-
Temple Style:
Traditional Greek temple turned upside
down
Rested on a podium or platform
On either side of the step was a frieze 7
feet high 450 feet long
At eye level with the viewer – sculptural
adornment is more important than the
architecture = interest in drama
Frieze is framed by a molding below and a
dentil range above
Ionic colonnade on the building façade
has not structural purpose
Wider space between columns allowed
viewer to look into interior courtyard
where the alter to Zeus was housed
How is the subject matter
visually represented?
How is the meaning/function visually
conveyed (FA)
- Frieze: Olympians vs. Giants
- Included inscription – could read an vies
the frieze
- Struggles between forces of light and
dark
- Bold high relief and great detail in texture
and appearance of swords and and
buckles
- Figures stand out so far they are nearly in
the round and come at the viewer – they
are superhuman
- Makes full use of the light and shadow
created by the sculptures = Heightened
tumultuous Drama
- Swirling struggle of bodies is continuous
along the whole narrative
- Motion creates unity
- Separate scenes are linked together by
coiling snakes – they lead the eye
- Poseidon and Athena copied from the
Parthenon pediments
ATHENA ATTACKING THE GIANTS ABOVE
ZEUS HURLING THUNDERBOLTS ABOVE