Chapter 5: Ancient Greece

1. Chapter 5: Ancient Greece The destruction of Mycenean palaces leads to the disappearance of powerful kings. The Greeks, an intermingling of Aegean and Indo-European people, established independent city-states around 800 BCE. Their art and culture reflect their mingled heritage, while also shaping our modern values of humanity and democracy.

2. - Considered humanity as “the measure of all things,” Greeks made their gods into humans and humans into gods- Differentiated themselves from the surrounding “barbarians,” Greeks were united by common language and considered themselves citizens of Hellas. - First Olympics held in 776 BCE in Olympia.- First democracy (demos=the people), but excluded women and slaves.

3. Geometric and Orientalizing Periods From 800 BCE to 600 BCE, this period of Greek art brought back the human figure in the form of small bronze sculptures and painted ceramic pots. Kraters and amphoras, ceremonial pots used for the mixing of water and wine, were adorned with abstract, geometric narratives that showed a fascination with Oriental design.

4. Geometric Bronze Sculpture Characteristic of this period, these pieces are both small bronze sculptures that show attempts at better understanding human form and a desire to show narratives. The centaur is from 750 BCE while the Mantiklos Apollo votive figure is from 700 BCE. Both display the trademark flat triangular face.

5. Daedalic Sculpture This limestone statuette of a maiden or goddess (kore, plural korai) is known as the Lady of Auxerre. Stylistically, she represents Daedalic art, named after the legendary Daedelus.

6. The Archaic Period 600-480 BCE Around 600 BCE, the first life size statues appear in Greece. In addition to kore (korai), statues of male youths known as kouroi (singular kouros) also appear. Males are nude, women are clothed. The evolution of these statues traces the Greek desire to portray more naturalism and movement. The rise of the “archaic smile,” which was used to show life and not necessarily realistic feelings. Also characteristic forward left foot.

7. The Calf Bearer, or moschophoros, is a depiction of a bearded adult bringing an offering. First use of archaic smile Beard indicates that the person is an adult, the figure is clothed showing that the person is a respectable older citizen.

8. The Peplos Kore and Kore in Ionian Dress reveal further advances. The peplos and Ionian chiton drape over the figures but still reveal distinctly feminine curves. The rendition of the intricate patterns on the clothes is typical of this time, revealing the artist’s fascination with pattern and repetition.

9. The Canonical Greek Temple Greek architecture was based in ideals of balance, symmetry, and proportion. The Greek temple was not a place for followers, but the house of the god or goddess. They were constructed to hold the enormous cult statue of the deity, the grandest of all votive offerings.

10. Greek Vase Painting The master of black figure painting from the archaic period was Exekias