Ancient Greek History thru Art Notes
INTRODUCTION
"For we are lovers of the beautiful, yet with simplicity, and we cultivate the mind without loss of manliness...We
are the school of Greece" Pericles, an Athenian statesman, orator, and general during the fifth century B.C.E.
For over a thousand years the Greek culture flourished until the Roman conquest in 146 B.C.E when
Roman armies completely defeated the Greek forces and took control of the province of Macedonia.
Whereas the Egyptians lived their lives according to their obsession with the afterlife, the Greeks
represent the first major civilization that lived their lives based upon the concept of humanism (i.e., to
understanding the world in terms of human reason rather than myth and tradition).
The Greek humanist view was what led them to create a democracy (i.e., a political form of government
in which governing power is derived from the people) and what encouraged their unparalleled
contributions to the fields of art, literature, and science.
HISTORY: Two major groups, the Dorians (from mainland Greece) and the Ionians (from the Aegean Island
groups), were the earliest people to create strong kinship groups based upon language and common beliefs.
Divided geographically, the early Greeks created small, independent city-states. Throughout the years, an
intense military, political and commercial rivalry will evolve between the city-states.
CHRONOLOGY
Geometric Period: ca. 900-700 B.C.E.
Archaic Period: ca. 625-480 B.C.E.
Classical Period: ca. 480-330 B.C.E.
Hellenistic Period: ca. 330-31 B.C.E.
Geometric Period
Vase Painting-Very typical of this period were large funerary vases designed to hold votive offerings.
Decoration consisted primarily of abstract forms arranged in registers that surrounded the vase. Artists
emphasized flat patterns and outline shapes that represented human forms in various poses of anguish that
repeated themselves around the vase.
Dipylon Vase Dipylon Master, from Dipylon Cemetary, c750 BCE
Attic Geometric Krater, from Dipylon Cemetary, c740 BCE
Hero and Centaur, c750 BCE
Statuary -There are very few examples of statuary from this time period. Lady of Auxerre, is the best example
with its triangular flat-topped head with stylized strands of hair, that compliment the triangular pattern used for
the facial shape.
Lady of Auxerre, c650-625 BCE
The Archaic Period
Architecture - A greater sense of permanency will characterize the architecture of the Archaic period.
Temples were no longer built of mud brick, but were constructed of stone and marble. Architects experimented
with different elevations of order, the Doric and the Ionic especially. Standard Doric elevation (seen in the
Temple of Hera I) included fluted columns that rested directly upon the stylobate, and a three-part entablature.
Temple of Hera I, Paestum, Italy, c550 BCE
Temple of Artemis, Korkyra, c600-580 BCE
Siphnian Treasury, reconstruction, c530-525 BCE
Statuary - With few exceptions, most archaic statuary was usually lifesize or larger, painted, and shared a
facial expression known as the "archaic smile". Female statues are identified as kore, and young male statues
as kouros.
Dying Warrior, Temple of Aphaia, Aegina, c480 BCE
Kouros (Standing Youth), c600 BCE
Moschophorus (Calf Bearer), c560 BCE
Kroisos, c525 BCE
Kore, 570-560 BCE
Kore, from Peplos, c530 BCE
Kore, from Chios, c520 BCE
Vase Painting - The main area for the production of vases during the Archaic Period was Athens. Artist
adopted the Corinthian technique of vase decorating called black-figure. In addition red-figure technique was
also used as a method of decoration.
Exekias, The Suicide of Ajax,
Black-figure amphora, c540 BCE
Exekias, Ajax and Achilles Playing a Game,
Black-figure amphora, c540-530 BCE
Early Classical Period
In the early fifth century BCE, the Greek city-states united to successfully stop a Persian invasion. However,
the final defeat of the Persians did not come unitl after the destruction of many cities, including Athens.
Architecture and Architectural Sculpture-Examples from this period represent a time of transition. Temples
become more compact, columns become more widely spaced with a smoother transition from the vertical shaft
to the horizontal elements of the architrave. The overall effect is more refined and is best illustrated in the
design of Temple of Hera II. Architectural sculpture shares this new refinement. Pediment statuary becomes
lifesize and displays a variety of movement and action.
Temple of Hera II, Paestum, c460 BCE
Apollo with Battling Lapiths and Centaurs,
Temple of Zeus, Olympia, c470-456 BCE
Athena, Herakles, and Atlas, Temple of Zeus, c470-456 BCE
Freestanding Sculpture
Early classical statuary represents a complete break with the rigid, unnatural Egyptian
inspired poses used by archaic sculptors in their kouroi. There is a new concern to render the
human form in natural poses that illustrate how a human actually stands.
Kritios Boy, c480 BCE
Charioteer, c470 BCE
Young Warrior (Riace Warrior), c450-450 BCE
High Classical Period
It was Pericles, who ruled Athens 462-429 B.C.E. that encouraged Athenians to rebuild the Acropolis that had
been destroyed by the Persians in 480 BCE. This monumental undertaking was highlighted by the construction
of the Parthenon. Completed in 438 BCE, construction was directed by Pheidias, who spared no expense at
the project.
Kallikrates and Iktinos The Parthenon, c447-438 BCE
Kallikrates Temple of Athena Nike, c425 BCE
Mnesikles Propylaia, c437-432 BCE
Mnesikles Erechtheion, c430's-405 BCE
Mnesikles Porch of the Maidens (Caryatid Porch), Erechtheion, c421-405 BCE
Architectural Sculpture
Three Seated Goddesses, East pediment of Parthenon,
(fig. 5-44), 438-432 BCE
Lapith Fighting Centaur, Metope relief, Doric frieze, south
end Parthenon, (fig. 5-45), 438-432 BCE
Horsemen, detail from Procession, Ionic frieze, north side,
Parthenon, (fig. 5-47), 438-432 BCE
Statuary
Sculptors from the High classical Period believed that true beauty was only found in perfect form. Sculptors
such as Myron and Polykleitos believed that true beauty existed in perfect proportions, in harmonious
numerical ratios. Polykleitos wrote about his ideas in his treatise called the Canon.
Myron Diskobolos, c450 BCE
Polykleitos Doryphoros (Spear Bearer), c450-440 BCE
Nike (Victory) adjusting Her Sandal, Temple of Athena Nike, 410-407 BCE
Late Classical Period
For one year after Athens was defeated by Sparta, the Athenian people were subjected to the tyrannical rule of
Kritias. In 403 BCE, Athens revolted against Sparta and democracy was restored. Athens never regained her
empire status, but the arts did continue to flourish. The artists of the fourth century BCE experimented with new
subjects and new artistic styles, that turned away from the rigid conventions of the High Classical period.
Architecture and Architectural Sculpture
Theodoros of Phokaia Tholos, Sanctuary of Athena, Delphi, c400 BCE
Polykleitos the Younger Theater, 350 BCE
Sculpture
Praxiteles, Aphrodite of Knidos, c350 BCE
Praxiteles, Hermes and Infant Dionysos, 300-250 BCE
Lysippos, Apoxyomenos (The Scraper), c330 BCE
Hellenistic Period
Architecture
Altar of Zeus, Pergamon, c166-156 BCE
Sculpture
Epigonos Dying Gaul, 230-220 BCE
Athena Attacking the Giants, Altar of Zeus, c166-156 BCE
Nike of Samothrace, c190 BCE
Hagesandros, Polydoros, and Athanadoros, Laocoon and His Sons, early
first century AD
Timeline of Greek History
2,000 - 1,700 BC Mycenean enter mainland Greece.
1,700 - 1,500 BC The height of Minoan Civilization is reached.
The Bronze Age
3,000 BC to 1100 BC
1,400 BC The rise of Mycenean naval strength.
1,200 BC The Trojan War, civil war, and the fall of the Mycenean.
1,150 BC Dorian Immigration into Greece mainland.
1,150 - 1,100 BC Aeolian Immigrations begin to Asia Minor.
The Dark Age
1,100 BC End of Mycenean age and civilization. Early city-states are ruled through
monarchy.
1,100 - 800 BC
900 BC Dorian migration to the Aegean islands, Asia Minor (area around Rhodes), and
through the Peloponnesus.
800 - 700 BC Monarchies begin to be replaced by Aristocratic Republics.
776 BC Date of the first Olympic games.
Archaic Period
800 BC - 500 BC
621 BC Draco's code of law - Athens.
600 BC Coin currency introduced.
546 BC Persian invasion and conquest of Greek territories through out Asia Minor.
507 BC Cleisthenes' democratic constitution.
490 BC First Persian invasion of Greece, the Battle of Marathon.
480 BC Second Persian invasion of Greece, Spartans are defeated at Thermopylae,
Athens is occupied by the Persians. The Persians are finally defeated at Salamis.
477 BC The founding of the Delian League (union of 173 city-states to fight the
Persian Empire).
Classical Period
479 BC Persians are defeated at Plataea.
500 - 330 BC
443 - 429 BC Pericles is leader of Athens during the Golden Age.
431 - 404 BC The Peloponnesian War
371 BC Thebes defeats Sparta at Leuctra
336 - 323 BC Alexander the Great's reign begins
323 - 148 BC Greek City States remain relatively independent. Frequent warfare
continues between rival leagues.
Hellenistic Age
330 - 30 BC
200 - 196 BC First Roman victories over Greece.
148 BC Macedonia becomes a Roman providence.
86 BC Athens is sacked by Sulla.