The Art of Ancient Greece: Gods, Heroes and Athletes

1
The Art of Ancient GreeceGods, Heroes and
Athletes

• Geometric PeriodOrientalizing PeriodArchaic
  PeriodClassical Period
• High Classical PeriodHellenistic Period

2
The Greek World
3
History of Geometric Period

• 900 - 700 BCE
• Olympic Games began 776 BCE
• Homer, Hesiod wrote epic poetry
• Greek alphabet developed
• Greek city-states coalesced
• Beginnings of Aegean trade

4
Geometric figure painting

• Geometric period 900-700 BCE
• After Dark Ages
• Aegean influences
• Indo-European influences
• Human figure painting
• Stylized geometric figures
• Trianglular torsos, skirts
• Circular eyes
• Pots Funerary markers
• Abstract angular motifs
• Meander (greek key)
• Concentric circles

FIG. 5-2 Dipylon krater, 780 BCE
5
Detail of Geometric krater
Burial scene mourning women, dead man
Funeral bier has only two legs - no interest in
depicting space
6
Vase Painting of Geometric period

• Almost exclusively covered in abstract motifs.
• b. Human figure is highly stylized.
• c. No depth of space.

7
Hero Vs. Centaur

• FIG 5-3
• Bronze, 750 - 730 BCE
• Cast with Lost-wax technique
• Hero battling centaur
• Blade in centaurs side indicates outcome
• Possibly Herakles and Nessos
• Heroes depicted Nude
• Contrast to Near Eastern conventions
• Body parts geometric shapes

8
Orientalizing period
FIG. 5-5

• trade, exploration increased 700 - 600 BCE
• Greek artists exposed to eastern counterparts
• Corinthian black-figured Amphora
• Exotic, composite creatures
• Siren (greek)
• Sphinx
• lamassu

9
Black-Figure Vase Painting

• New Ceramic technique
• Paint black silhouettes on clay
• Incise linear details within forms
• Add highlights in purplish-red or white
• Fire vase

Black-figure technique developed at Corinth.
10
Offering to the Gods

• FIG 5-4
• Mantiklos Apollo, 700 - 680 BCE
• Mantiklos dedicated me as a tithe to the
  far-shooting Lord of the Silver Bow You, Phoebus
  Apollo might give something in return.
• Worshipper or Deity?
• Stylized, geometric bodily features

11
Naukratis, Egypt

• Only Greek settlement in Egypt
• Greek mercenaries fought for pharaoh
• Oracle advises pharaoh to employ brazen men
• Greeks appear with bronze armor
• Story from Herodotus
• Treaty port
• Earliest Ionian inscriptions

12
First Stone Temples

• Earliest known Greek temple with sculpture
• Built At Prinias, Crete
• Temple A
• 625 BCE
• Inspiration
• Egyptian architecture
• Myceaean Megaron
• Orientalizing panthers
• Goddesses in daedalic style

13
Daedalic style

• Lady of Auxerre 650 BCE
• Kore (maiden) dedicated to gods
• Grave markers, funerary offerings
• Daedalic style
• Daedalus worked in Crete
• Frontal figure
• Compressed from side
• Large belt
• Standing stiffly
• Triangular, flat head
• Large, U-shaped face
• Heavy, patterned hair

FIG 5-7
14
6th century BCE
15
Archaic Period

• 600 - 480 BCE
• Persian Wars 490 - 479 BCE
• Poets and Playwrights
• Sappho 600 BCE, Aeschylus 525 BCE
• Herodotus 485 BCE
• democratic reforms
• Draco, solon, kleisthenes
• Tyrants patronize arts
• Pre-Socratic Philosophers
• Thales of Miletus (water)
• Parmenides (logos)
• Heraclites (change)

Pan-Hellenic Games - Pythian Games -
Isthmian Games - Nemean Games
16
The Polis (poleis)

• Agora
• Akropolis
• Citizens
• Women, metics, slaves not citizens
• Community values
• Moderation, restraint
• Gifts used in service of polis
• Sparta - duarchy
• Corinth - mercantile oligarchy
• Athens - democracy

17
Archaic human Statuary
FIG 5-11Peplos Kore, 530 BCE
FIG 5-10Kroisos Kore 530 BCE
FIG 5-9Moschophoros(Calf-Bearer) 560 BCE
FIG 5-8New York Kore 600 BCE
18
Identify similarities between the kouros (Fig.
5-8) and the Egyptian statue of Mentemhet. What
are the primary changes you see in the treatment
of the human figure ?

• Rigidly frontal figure
• Left foot advanced slightly
• Arms held beside body
• Funerary purpose
• Kouros liberated from stone block
• Kouros is unclothed
• Daedalic style

19
New York Kouros

• kouros (youth), ca. 590580 b.c. Archaic
• Greek, Attic
• Naxian marble
• H. without plinth 76 in. (193.04 cm)

20
Calf-Bearer

• Calf-Bearer ca. 560 b.c. Archaic
• Greek, Attic
• marble
• Dedicatory inscription by Rhonbos
• Permanent offering to goddess Athena
• Position of calf legs and mans arms creates X

21
Rampin Rider

• Rampin Rider ca. 550 b.c. Archaic
• Greek, Attic
• marble
• Early equestrian figure
• Several found buried on akropolis
• Wreath indicates athlete in games
• Strict frontality relaxed
• Head down and to the side
• Archaic smile

22
Kroisos Kouros

• Kroisos Kouros ca. 530 b.c. Archaic
• Greek, Attic
• marble
• Commemorative Inscription
• Stop and grieve at the tomb of the dead Kroisos,
  slain by wild Ares in the front rank of battle.
• New proportions
• Instead of Egyptian grid, body features based on
  heads
• Kroisos Kouros 17
• Compare to the New York kouros

23
The Archaic Smile
Calf-bearer, Athens c. 560 BCE
Dying Warrior, Temple of Aphaia,Aegina c. 490
BCE
24
Ionian Kore

• FIG 5-12
• Acropolis, Athens, ca. 520 BCE
• Sophisticated carving partly due to change in
  equipment
• Greek iron chisel replaced Egyptian copper claw
  chisel
• Change in fashion
• Light chiton replaced by heavier himation
• Kore were painted bright colors

25
Houses for the GodsDoric and Ionic Temples

• Early Doric Temple
• Temple core CELLA (Naos)
• surrounding Colonnade (Peristyle)
• Heavy, Closely spaced columns w/swelling in
  middle (entasis)
• Doric columns
• Limestone covered with plaster (no marble
  available)
• Entasis - columns bulge in middle
• Counteract concave appearance of straight columns

Temple of Hera I, 550 BCE Paestum, Italy
26
Greek Temple design

• Originally modelled after Egyptian
• Altar outside, cult statue inside
• House for god, not followers
• Beauty in proportion, order
• Originally 13, then closer to 12
• Temple on acropolis to proclaim excellence of
  city-state

27
Greek Temple plansDoric and Ionic Temples
pronaos
opisthodomos
Stylobate (base)
Cella (naos)
Peristyle (external colonnade)
anta
28
(Doric) Temple components

• Entablature
• Frieze
• Triglyph
• Metope
• Cornice
• Pediment
• Column
• Capital
• Shaft
• Stylobate

29
Houses for the GodsCaryatids and giants
Gigantomachy Siphnian Treasury, Delphi 530 BCE

• Gigantomachy sculptured frieze of giants
• Caryatid Column in Human form

30
Vase PaintingArtists signatures

• Archaic vases signed, labeled
• Attic black-figured volute krater
• Signed by Painter Kleitas made me
• Signed by potter Ergotimos made me

Francois vase 570 BCE
31
Womens lives

• Lekythos, ca. 550530 b.c. Archaic, black-figure
• Attributed to the Amasis Painter
• Greek, Attic
• Terracotta
• H. 6 3/4 in. (17.15 cm)

32
The Symposium

• Column-krater, ca. 550 b.c. black-figure
• Attributed to Lydos
• Greek, Attic
• Terracotta
• H. 22 3/16 in. (56.39 cm)

33
Vase PaintingBlack-figured technique

• Exekias, master of black-figure technique
• Step 1 - remove impurities
• Step 2 - Paint
• Apply finely sifted red clay
• Step 3 - Apply handles, slip
• Step 4 - Fire
• Oxidize to turn pot, slip red
• Cut oxygen to turn black
• Reoxidize to turn pot red and slip black

Achilles and Ajax playing dice from Attic
black-figured amphora 540 BCE
34
Vase PaintingBilingual Painting

• Andronikes painter
• 520 BCE
• One side red-figure, one side black-figure
• First use of red figure

35
Vase PaintingTransition to Classical

• Achilles and Penthesileia

36
Houses for the GodsAegina Transition to
Classical

• Columns widely spaced, slender
• Double colonnade
• Pediments contain life-sized statuary

37
Houses for the GodsAegina Transition to
Classical

• Upper figure
• West Pediment
• 490 BCE
• Torso rigidly frontal
• Archaic smile
• Mannequin-like
• Lower Figure
• East pediment
• 480 BCE
• Torso at an angle
• Does not look at viewer
• Natural, complex
• Reflects emotion

38
Classical Architecture

• FIG 5-31, 32
• Temple of Zeus, olympia
• Libon of Elis, 470 - 457 BCE
• Largest in Greece
• Housed Phidias statue
• Seven wonders of the World
• Classical style
• Even number, 2 in antis
• More statuary
• Theme
• Race btw Pelops, King
• Stylistic innovation
• distress, aging body

39
Virtual Field Trip

• The Acropolis in Athens

40
Athenian Acropolis

• FIG 5-41
• pericles
• Sculptor Kresilas
• 429 BCE
• Led Athens as archon BCE 460 - 430
• approporiated Delian league funds
• Commissioned public buildings
• For glorification of athens
• To provide work for his own support
• Original portrait
• bronze
• Erected after death from plague
• Depicted in heroic nudity
• Roman Copy
• Marble herm

41
(No Transcript)
42
Acropolis History

• 14th c. BCE massive Mycenaean palace
• 10th c. became sacred precinct
• 560 BCE Peisistratos, tyrant, erected buildings
• 480 BCE Persians destroyed
• Athenians buried statues and resolved to leave
  devastated
• 450s Pericles rebuilds with Delian League funds

43
Athenian Acropolis
1. Parthenon
2. propylaea
3. Temple of athena nike
4. erechtheion
44
Propylaea (Gateway)
45
Kritios Boy
Early Classical

• FIG 5-34
• From the Acropolis
• Ca. 480 BCE
• Marble, 2 10 high
• Transitional btw archaic-classical
• Contrapposto
• Slight turn of the body

46
Tyrannicides
Early Classical

• Cast in bronze by Antenor
• From the Acropolis
• Ca. 480 BCE
• Marble, 2 10 high
• First state-sponsored commemorative image in
  Greece
• Carried off by Xerxes when he sacked Athens in
  480 BCE
• Sacrifice for city

47
Temple of Athena Nike

• Ionic style temple
• Designed by Kallikrates
• At entrance to Athenas sacred precinct
• Battle of Marathon frieze

48
Nike Adjusting Sandal

• Nike
• Temple of Athena Nike
• Acropolis, Athens
• Ca. 410 BCE
• Marble, 36 high
• Drapery wet style
• Wings (only traces remain) echo and frame torsos
  curve

49
Erechtheion

• 421 BCE
• Incorporated shrines to gods, demigods, heroes,
  kings
• In reign of King Erechtheus, ancient wooden
  statue of Athena fell from heaven
• Asymmetrical plan
• Irregular due to need to incorporate shrine of
  Kekrops
• Ionic plan
• Caryatids in relaxed contrappostal pose

50
Parthenon

• Athena Parthenos Athena Virgin
• Proportions x 2y 1
• 8 X 17 columns
• Optical refinements
• Columns slope inward
• Basic plan doric
• Ionic elements
• Columns, inner frieze
• Stylobate curves upward at center and on sides

FIG 5-44Architects Iktinos, Kallikrates448 -
432 BCE
51
Parthenon Plan

• Steps on outside
• Two inner, smaller rectangular rooms
• Smaller room treasury
• Larger room, naos or cella, held statue
• Inner rectangle of doric columns

52
Phidias Statue of Athena

• Fig 5-46
• Athena Parthenos
• Sculptor Phidias
• Chryselephantine
• Gold ivory
• 38 ft. tall
• One of Seven wonders
• Athena armed
• medusa shield
• Holds Nike (Victory over persians)

53
From chariot of Selene, goddess of the moon
54
Parthenon Pediments

• East pedimet
• Birth of Athena
• West pediment
• Contest btw Athena, poseidon
• Inner Ionic Frieze
• Panathenic procession

Replica of west pediment, the contest btw Athena
and Poseidon for patron deity of Athens
55
Parthenon Pediments
Lapiths vs. centaursmetopesBacks are as
carefully carved as fronts

• FIG 5-49 Three goddesses
• attending the birth of Athena

56
(No Transcript)
57
Vase PaintingRed-figured technique

• Red figure vases
• Allowed for greater detail
• Story moment
• Names of recipients, givers, subjects
• New technique
• Greater anatomical accuracy
• Athenian pottery
• Buried with Peloponnesian war dead

58
Vase PaintingRed-figured technique

• Red figure vases
• Allowed for greater detail
• Story moment
• Names of recipients, givers, subjects
• New technique
• Greater anatomical accuracy
• Athenian pottery
• Buried with Peloponnesian war dead

59
Vase PaintingPainters

• FIG 5-24euthymides painterUsed 3/4 view on
  bodies, showed form from back

FIG 5-23Euphronios PainterDiluted glaze to give
Antaios brown hair, accentuate muscles
60
(No Transcript)
61
Death, Burial and the Afterlife
62
Death, Burial and the Afterlife
63
Death, Burial and the Afterlife
64
Herakles Identity

• Son of Zeus and Alcmene, neat-ankled daughter of
  Electyon (Hesiod)
• Born at Thebes, main cult center
• Worshipped as divine protector of mankind
• One of three most widely worshipped heroes
• Theseus, perseus, herakles
• Epithets
• Herakles Promachos
• Herakles the Champion
• Herakles Monoikos
• Herakles the Solitary

Origin of the Milky Way, Tintoretto, 1570
65
Herakles iconography

• Lion skin
• From defeating the Nemean lion
• Wore as a mantle weaponproof
• Club
• His preferred weapon
• Owl
• Athena was his patroness

Farnese Herakles
66
Herakles in Myth

• Labors of Herakles
• Lernean Hydra
• Ceryneian Hind

67
Herakles in Myth

• Labors of Herakles
• Erymanthean Boar
• Augean stables