The Transition from the Classical
period to the Hellenistic Period
www.wikipedia.org
A shift in culture, art, and the depiction of
Jimmy Saros
Narrative
ARCH 0250
12/4/08
Classical Greece
• Split up into
City States
• Said to be
the
foundation
for western
civilization.
www.usu.edu
Characteristics of Classical Period Art
• Artwork of people as
ideals of beauty or
physical perfection.
• Explored various
naturalistic poses of
human form.
• Figures commonly stood
in the “contrapposto.” a
defining element of
Greek sculptural
technique.
Canon of the Doryphoros
(Spear Bearer)
www.answers.com
Narratives of the Classical Period
Greek Warriorwww.Britannica.com
Victorious Athlete- www.wikipedia.com
The Porch of Maidens
• Can be found in the Erechtheum
Erechtheum, south view- www.wikipedia.com
The Porch of the Maidens
• Also known as The Porch of the Caryatids.
• Story comes from the Persian Wars.
• Not all of the Greek city-states fought against
the Persians.
• Some city-states remained neutral, and in
some cases the city states became allies of the
Persians after seeing their massive army
approach.
• The Porch of Maidens represents as a
reminder to the public of the invasion on the
town of Caryae which was in northern
Laconia.
• Once the enemy was defeated and driven out
of the city, all of Greece turned against the
town of Caryae.
• All of the men in Caryae were killed.
• All of the married women were held as
prisoners.
The Maidens
•Women had to wear stoles
and ornaments to show
they were married.
•Captive maidens were led
through the city to be made
an example of.
•The roof that rests on top
of the maidens heads
represents the punishment
for their sins of betraying
their country.
www. images.encarta.msn.com
The New Era
• The cause of the shift to the Hellenistic period
began when Alexander the Great became
emperor.
• He split his empire into a number of smaller
dynastic empires instead of small city states.
• His conquest of spreading the empire caused
Greek culture to spread as far as India.
• The Hellenistic period was a result of the fusion
between the ancient Greek world and Asia.
The major Hellenistic realms
the Ptolemaic kingdom
the Seleucid empire
Macedon
Epirus
Changes in Art
• Greek art became much more diverse and showed
influence from the cultures that were now acquired
into the Greek empire.
• Everyday people and scenes were now being depicted
through artwork.
• Art was much more elaborate and full of expression;
expression that mostly focused on suffering and pain.
• Artists became much more skilled.
• During this time sculptures became more and more
naturalistic.
• Displayed and Evoked emotion.
Hellenistic Sculptures
Wounded Gaul- www.britannica.com
Gaul Killing Himself and His Wifewww.wikipedia.com
Depictions of Narratives
• Now artwork showed scenes from the stories
and events they are based off.
• Most of these Narratives focused on pain and
suffering.
• Depicted tragic events.
• The viewer has an idea of what is happening
without having any knowledge of the
narrative itself.
The Laocoon Group
www.wikipedia.com
www.wikipedia.com
Antiphantes
Thymbraeus
About The Laocoon Group
• A marble sculpture.
• Central figure is the Trojan priest of Apollo,
Laocoon
• Laocoon is shown with his two sons.
• They are being strangled by a serpent.
Narrative
• The scene that is being depicted of Laocoon
comes from Aeneid.
• The Aeneid is a Latin epic poem written by
Virgil.
• Based off of episodes from the Trojan War
which took place between Troy and Sparta.
• A scene from the Aeneid is being illustrated in
The Laocoon Group.
• In the Aeneid, Sparta offered Troy the gift of a
wooden horse.
• The Trojans were going to except the gift, but
then Laocoon went with his two sons to warn the
Trojans about accepting the wooden horse.
• Troy disregarded his advice and accepted the
horse.
• Then Greek goddess Athena, who supported the
Greeks in the war, sent a sea serpent to strangle
Laocoon and his two sons.
• Despite they’re hard fought struggle with the
serpent, Laocoon and his two sons were killed.
Differences
The effect on Narrative
• This transition between the classical and
Hellenistic period caused the narratives told
through the artwork to express scenes that
depicted action and that dealt with pain and
suffering.
• The classical period of course had events that
dealt with this, but the difference is that it was
not directly expressed in the artwork.