Ancient Greek and Roman Art Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards reviewing key concepts, works of art, myths, and architectural terms from Ancient Greece and Rome.

Dipylon krater

A terra cotta Geometric period painted pottery vessel used as a cemetery grave marker and for mixing wine and water.

Geometric Period

A period of Greek art characterized by ordered, symmetrical, and highly patterned artwork featuring meanders, triangles, bands, and human figures simplified into geometric shapes.

The Parthenon

A temple built on the Acropolis in Athens dedicated to Athena, constructed between 447 and 432 BCE by architects Ictinus and Callicrates using Pentelic marble.

Ictinus and Callicrates

The architects who designed the Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens.

Pentelic marble

The primary material used in the construction of the Parthenon.

Optical Refinement

Small architectural adjustments—such as slightly curved columns, curved platforms, inward column leans, and thicker corner columns—made by Greek architects so a building appears perfectly straight and balanced to the human eye.

Pediment

The triangular end of a roof on a Greek temple, used to display decorative sculptures.

Frieze

A continuous sculptural band running along a building like the Parthenon.

Metopes

Square sculpted panels located between triglyphs on the Parthenon.

East Pediment (Parthenon)

The Parthenon pediment that depicts the birth of Athena from Zeus's head, set at sunrise with the energetic horses of Helios and the tired horses of Selene.

Hephaestus

The Greek god of fire and metalworking who hit Zeus's head with a hammer to relieve his headache, causing Athena to emerge fully grown and wearing armour.

West Pediment (Parthenon)

The Parthenon pediment showing the contest between Athena (offering an olive tree) and Poseidon (striking the ground with his trident) to become patron of Athens.

The Discus Thrower (Discobolus)

A Classical Greek sculpture created by Myron around 460 to 450 BCE, originally in bronze, depicting an athlete capturing dynamic movement, balance, and naturalistic anatomy before throwing a discus.

Myron

The Greek artist who created the Discus Thrower sculpture around 460 to 450 BCE.

Laocoön

A late Hellenistic sculpture (42-20 BCE) showing a father and his sons suffering punishment from Poseidon or Athena for telling his compatriots about the Greeks' plan with the wooden horse.

Augustus of Prima Porta

A statue of Rome's first emperor showing Greek idealised influence, depicting Augustus at about 40 years old as young, strong, barefoot, and heroic.

Adlocutio gesture

A raised hand gesture traditionally used when addressing soldiers or a crowd, as featured on the Augustus of Prima Porta statue.

Paludamentum

An athletic tunic/cloak worn in the Augustus of Prima Porta statue to signify military authority.

Tellus

The Goddess of Earth depicted on Augustus's breastplate with two infants, symbolizing peace, fertility, abundance, life, and prosperity under Augustus.

Parthian Soldier

A figure on Augustus's breastplate handing back a captured Roman military standard, symbolizing Rome's military victory over the Parthians.

Apollo

The Greek god associated with light, music, and prophecy depicted on Augustus's breastplate to connect Augustus with cosmic support and divine protection.

Diana

The goddess of the hunt and nature, shown with her stag on Augustus's breastplate.