Archaic and Classical Greek History, Art, and Sanctuaries

Flashcards covering Panhellenic sanctuaries, architectural evolution at Olympia and Delphi, Greek athletic competitions, Athenian political institutions, historical chronologies, temple architecture, and Archaic pottery and sculpture styles.

What were the Olympic games and when were they established according to Greek tradition?

A religious festival dedicated to Zeus, established in 776 BCE.

What was the Heraia in ancient Greece?

Independent athletic games for women dedicated to Hera.

Which mythical figure was credited with the origin of the Olympic games?

Pelops.

What was the Heraion at Olympia?

An early temple at the sanctuary of Olympia dedicated to Hera.

What was the Pelopion at Olympia?

A monument at the site dedicated to the hero Pelops.

What was the Metroon at Olympia, and where was it located?

A temple dedicated to the mother of the gods, situated near the row of treasuries.

What was the function of the Altar of Zeus at Olympia?

The main site used for sacrifices at the sanctuary.

What was the Palaestra at Olympia, and when was it built?

A 4th century BCE colonnaded building designed for athletes to use for dressing and exercising.

What was the Gymnasium at Olympia, and what was its date of construction?

A 2nd century BCE colonnaded facility used by competitors for training and athletic practices.

What was the Leonideum at Olympia?

A large structure intended to house distinguished guests at the sanctuary.

What role did the Bouleuterion serve at Olympia?

The central administration building at Olympia where the governing council met.

What was the significance of Phidias' Workshop at Olympia?

The specific onsite location where sculptor Phidias crafted the monumental statue of Zeus.

What was the Theokoleon (Theogoleon) used for at Olympia?

A building used by sanctuary officials for administrative and religious duties.

What was the Quadriga, and when is it believed to have been introduced to the Olympic games?

A four-horse chariot used in equestrian racing, believed to be introduced in 684 BCE.

What does the term Diskobolos mean, and who famously cast it in bronze?

A Greek term for a discus thrower, famously represented in a bronze sculpture by Myron.

What were halteres in ancient Greek athletic competition?

Lead weights used by jumpers to increase momentum.

How was the ancient sport of pankration defined?

A high intensity combat sport with combined elements of wrestling and boxing.

Which five disciplines were included in the ancient Greek Pentathlon?

Discus, javelin, jumping, running, and wrestling.

What were the Zanes at Olympia, and what was their purpose?

Bronze statues of Zeus placed near the entrance of the stadium, serving as a reminder for penalties of misconduct.

What was the Omphalos at Delphi?

A stone monument at Delphi representing the navel or physical center of the Earth.

When were the Pythian Games established, and what did they initially feature?

A Panhellenic festival established in the 6th century BCE, initially featuring musical contests.

What was the Sacred Way at Delphi?

The primary procession path through the Delphic sanctuary, lined with a dense collection of treasuries and monuments dedicated by various city states.

What does the epithet Pytheas refer to at Delphi?

An epithet of Apollo specifically associated with his sanctuary at Delphi.

What architectural order and construction material define the Siphnian Treasury (ca. 530 BCE)?

A hallmark of the Ionic order, constructed entirely of Cycladic marble, featuring caryatids (or korai) on its porch to support the weight of the roof.

What narrative scenes are sculpted on the friezes and east pediment of the Siphnian Treasury?

The north frieze features the Gigantomachy; the east frieze shows the weighing of souls and Trojan War combat between Achilles and Memnon; the east pediment shows Zeus intervening in a struggle between Apollo and Herakles over the Delphic tripod.

What architectural order, material, and metope themes define the Athenian Treasury (post-490 BCE)?

Constructed in the Doric order using Parian marble from Paros; exterior features high-relief metopes depicting legendary labors of Herakles and Theseus.

What was the Naxian Sphinx at Delphi?

A colossal marble sphinx dedicated by the people of Naxos around 570 BCE.

In Greek temple architecture, what is the adyton?

The innermost and most sacred chamber of the temple.

In Greek temple architecture, what is the naos (cella)?

The primary central room of the temple structure that typically housed the cult statue.

What are the pronaos and opisthodomos in a standard temple plan?

The pronaos is the front porch leading into the main temple chamber; the opisthodomos is the rear porch or room, typically mirroring the pronaos and often used for storage.

What does 'distyle in antis' describe in Greek temple architecture?

An architectural design featuring 2 columns set between the projecting ends of the side walls (antae).

What scenes decorated the pediments of the 510 BCE Temple of Apollo at Delphi?

The east pediment featured Apollo arriving in a chariot accompanied by youths and wild beasts; the west pediment depicted the Gigantomachy with Zeus at the center in a chariot.

When were the Delphic Theater and Delphic Stadium dated/established?

The Delphic Theater dates to the 2nd century BCE, and the Delphic Stadium was established in the 4th century BCE for athletic competitions during the Pythian Games.

What was the objective of the Kleisthenic Reforms of 508/507 BCE?

Legislation that reorganized citizens into 10 new tribes based on geography to dismantle the power of the traditional aristocracy.

Why did Athenian democracy use 'selection by lot' for many offices?

To ensure fairness and prevent corruption by choosing officials by chance rather than election.

What were the primary responsibilities of the Archon Basileus in Athens?

Also known as the King Archon, this official was mainly responsible for traditional religious sacrifices and presiding over certain legal matters.

What was the Boule in Athens, and what building served as its meeting house?

A council of 500 citizens who managed the city's daily affairs and prepared the agenda for the larger assembly; they met in the Bouleuterion.

What was the Oath Stone at the Athenian Agora?

A large stone located at the Royal Stoa where Athenian officials stood to take their oath of office.

What was the Pnyx in Athens?

A large, open-air hillside meeting place used for the regular sessions of the general citizen assembly (Ekklesia).

What was the significance of the Battle of Marathon (490 BCE) and the Battle of Plataea (479 BCE)?

Marathon was a significant Athenian victory against the 1st Persian invasion; Plataea was the final land battle that ended the Persian threat to mainland Greece.

What chronologically defines the Classical Period of Greek history?

The era beginning with the end of the Persian Wars (480 BCE) and ending with the death of Alexander the Great (323 BCE).

What chronologically defines the Hellenistic Period of Greek history?

The era following Alexander the Great's death (323 BCE) that lasted until the Roman conquest in 31 BCE.

What are the essential architectural elements of a Greek sanctuary versus its optional elements?

Essential elements: altar, votives, precinct wall, and a temple. Optional elements: treasuries, stoas, stadiums, and theatres.

What was the Ash Altar at Olympia?

A massive accumulation of organic remains from centuries of sacrifices to Zeus at Olympia, growing to over 22 meters high by the Roman Period.

What is chryselephantine sculpture?

A type of monumental sculpture constructed from a wooden core overlaid with sheets of ivory and gold.

What was depicted on the east and west pediments of the Temple of Olympian Zeus?

The east pediment depicted the preparation for the legendary chariot race between Pelops and Oinomaos with Zeus as central arbiter; the west pediment illustrated the Centauromachy (Lapiths vs. Centaurs) representing the triumph of civilization over barbarism.

What was the stadion in Greek athletic competitions?

The premier sprint race of the games, covering a distance of approximately 192 meters.

What was the armed race in Greek athletic events?

A specialized running event where athletes competed wearing helmets and carrying shields.

What are an aryballos and an olpe in 7th-century Corinthian pottery?

An aryballos is an oil flask, and an olpe is a wide-mouthed jug.

What early architectural features characterized the Temple of Poseidon at Isthmia (ca. 690-650 BCE)?

It featured early engaged columns and a terracotta roof.

What was notable about Temple A at Prinias, Crete (ca. 625-600 BCE)?

It was one of the first structures to be built fully of stone, including a stone lintel decorated in the Daedalic style.

What is a stylobate in Greek temple architecture?

The top step of the masonry platform that serves as the base for the temple columns.

What is an akroterion?

A decorative ornament placed at the apex or corners of a temple pediment.

How do the frieze, column capital, and base differ between the Doric and Ionic orders?

Doric friezes alternate between metopes and triglyphs, have simple pillow-like echinus capitals, and have no base (resting directly on the stylobate); Ionic friezes are continuous sculpted friezes, have volute (scroll) capitals, and rest on tiered bases.

What does a 'dipteral' temple floor plan feature?

A double colonnade on all sides, common in massive Ionic structures.

What are the hallmark facial and hair characteristics of the Daedalic style?

V-shaped faces, almond eyes, and triangular hair separated into locks.

Within the components of a Greek polis, what was the asty and what was the chora?

The asty was the central city area of the polis; the chora was the adjacent territory and smaller settlements surrounding the asty.

How did Athenian leadership differ between Solon (early 6th century BCE) and the Peisistratids (mid 6th century BCE)?

Solon focused on reforms to increase political participation and reduce economic exploitation of lower status groups; the Peisistratids exercised tyrannical rule marked by large-scale public building projects and reorganization of festivals.

What are a temenos and a propylon in sanctuary design?

A temenos is a boundary wall defining the sacred area of a sanctuary; a propylon is a monumental gateway serving as the entrance to the sanctuary.

What was revealed by excavations of Building A and Structure C at the Sanctuary of Apollo at Eretria?

Building A (1st half of 8th century BCE) contained an internal hearth and faunal remains suggestive of ritual feasting; Structure C was a bronze-making workshop indicating industrial craft was integrated within the sacred precinct.

What archaeological findings were discovered at the San Montano Cemetery at Pithekoussai?

Mixed inhumations and cremations containing local, Phoenician, and Corinthian pottery alongside many Italian-style small finds.

What is Nestor's Cup, and why is it significant?

A Rhodian kotyle from the late 8th century BCE found at San Montano, featuring a three-line verse inscription added after the cup was fired.

What was the Mantiklos Apollo, and what does it demonstrate?

A bronze figurine from Thebes (early 7th century BCE) inscribed with a dedication to Apollo, demonstrating the use of writing for religious offerings.

What is the Protoattic style, and what does the Eleusis Amphora depict?

A regional 7th century BCE Attic style focusing on large-scale mythological narratives; the Eleusis Amphora (ca. 650-625 BCE) depicts the myth of Gorgons chasing Perseus.

What was the Pithos from Tinos?

A large storage jar from the second quarter of the 7th century BCE featuring molded and incised relief decoration of Perseus slaying Medusa.