Classical Greek Art: Athens, The Parthenon and its Legacy

Who was Pausanias?

A Greek traveller and writer whose descriptions provide valuable evidence about ancient Greek monuments and artworks.

Why is Pausanias important for understanding Greek art?

He personally saw monuments and artworks that have since been damaged or destroyed.

Who created the Athena Parthenos?

Phidias.

What materials were used for the Athena Parthenos?

What did Athena Parthenos hold in her hand? And significance of statue

Gold and ivory.

A figure of Nike/Victory.

associated with Athens and its identity

Why was the Parthenon considered an extraordinary achievement?

The Parthenon itself was considered an extraordinary achievement because its construction and decoration were completed relatively quickly.

What is entasis?

A slight outward swelling of a column shaft used as an optical refinement.

Why did Greek architects use optical refinements?

To compensate for visual distortions and make buildings appear more balanced and harmonious.

Are the columns of the Parthenon perfectly straight?

No.

• columns are not perfectly straight

• they have a slight outward swelling called entasis

• spacing between columns is adjusted

• parts of the entablature are subtly angled

rather than using mathematical adjustments, subtle adjustments used to make the building appear visually balanced.

What does the Parthenon demonstrate about Greek architecture?

A combination of order, proportion, balance and carefully controlled irregularity.

Where did the Ionic order originate?

The Greek cities of Asia Minor and the eastern Aegean.

What is characteristic of an Ionic column?

• slimmer columns

• more decorative appearance

• volute capitals

• continuous sculptural frieze

• more elaborate mouldings

Ionic vs Doric

Ionic is generally more slender and decorative, while Doric is more sturdy and austere.

What is characteristic of the Doric order?

• relatively sturdy columns

• simple capitals

• austere appearance

• triglyphs and metopes in the frieze

Where was the Doric associated with?

Associated particularly with mainland/Dorian Greece.

Doric architecture was associated by mainland Greeks with qualities such as strength and masculinity.

What is a volute?

The spiral/curling form characteristic of an Ionic capital.

What was the frieze like in Ionic architecture?

It could form a continuous band of figurative relief.

How was sculpture incorporated differently into Doric temples?

It was often placed in areas such as metopes and pediments rather than forming a continuous structural frieze.

What is naturalism?

Representing the human figure in a believable way based on observation.

What is idealisation?

Creating a perfected version of the human figure rather than simply copying an individual.

an idealised sculpture isn't necessarily supposed to represent one real individual.

Can a Greek sculpture be both naturalistic and idealised?

Yes. Classical Greek artists often combined believable anatomy with an idealised body.

What qualities were associated with the Greek ideal?

Balance, proportion, harmony, youth and physical perfection.

What does “nothing in excess” represent in Greek culture?

The importance of moderation and avoiding extremes

How does Plato relate to artistic idealisation?

His philosophical ideas about ideal forms provided an intellectual context for thinking about perfect or ideal forms beyond imperfect physical examples.

Architecture and politics

Architecture was not only about appearance.

The use of different architectural styles could also have political and cultural significance.

The presence of Ionic buildings on the Athenian Acropolis alongside the Doric Parthenon may have suggested the unity of the Greek world under Athens, particularly following the Persian Wars.

The inscription at Delph

“Know thyself”
and
“Nothing in excess”

reflects the broader cultural importance of restraint and balance.

The Charioteer of Delphi

an important example of early Classical sculpture.

The figure is relatively restrained rather than dramatically expressive.

The sculpture achieves a sense of life through small deviations from symmetry.

Although the figure is standing still:

• the body has subtle asymmetries

• the head turns slightly

• the drapery has movement

• the viewer can experience the sculpture from different angles

This creates a sense of inner vitality without exaggerated movement.

How could Greek sculptors suggest movement in a stationary figure?

Through posture, weight distribution, asymmetry, gestures and the relationship between different body parts.

What is rhythmos?

An organised relationship between parts of the body that creates a sense of rhythm, balance and potential movement.

Can a completely stationary sculpture suggest movement?

Yes. Subtle changes in posture and asymmetry can make the figure appear alive or ready to move.

For example, a figure throwing a discus can communicate the trajectory and energy of the movement even though the sculpture itself is stationary.

Why was bronze useful for Greek sculptors?

It allowed complicated poses and extended limbs that were difficult to achieve in marble.

What technique was commonly used to create Greek bronze sculptures?

The lost-wax technique.

Why are relatively few original Greek bronze sculptures preserved?

Many were melted down and their metal was reused.

How do we know about many lost Greek sculptures?

Through ancient literary descriptions, Roman copies and surviving fragments.

What god was Delphi primarily associated with?

Apollo.

Who was the Pythia?

The female oracle at Delphi who delivered prophetic utterances.

What were the Pythian Games?

Athletic and musical competitions held at Delphi in honour of Apollo.

What does Delphi demonstrate about Greek culture?

The importance of religion, competition, pilgrimage and cultural exchange.

Why was female nudity different from male nudity in Greek art?

Male nudity was more widely accepted earlier, particularly in athletic contexts, while female nudity developed later and carried different social meanings.

Which famous sculpture established an important model for the female nude?

The Aphrodite of Knidos.

Who was associated with the Aphrodite of Knidos?

Praxiteles.

Why is the Aphrodite of Knidos important?

It became an influential model of the beautiful female nude in Western art.

The figure combines:

• naturalism

• idealisation

• softness

• movement

• sensuality

Who is Hermes and Dionysus associated with?

Praxiteles

Approximately when does Hermes and Dionysus date?

Around 340 BC.

What qualities does Hermes and Dionysus demonstrate?

A relaxed pose, soft modelling, naturalism and idealisation.

How does later Classical sculpture differ from earlier Classical sculpture?

It can become more relaxed, graceful, emotionally subtle and interested in softer forms.

What types of sculpture decorated the Parthenon?

Pedimental sculpture, metopes and friezes.

Why was the placement of sculpture on Greek temples challenging?

Much of it was positioned high above eye level and therefore had to be designed to be visible from below

What does Parthenon sculpture demonstrate?

Sophisticated understanding of anatomy, movement, drapery, composition and three-dimensional form.

What is pedimental sculpture?

Sculpture placed within the triangular space at the end of a Greek temple.

What is a metope?

A rectangular panel in the Doric frieze that could contain sculpted relief.

Where is the Temple of Aphaia?

On the island of Aegina near Athens.

Why is the Temple of Aphaia important?

Its pedimental sculptures provide important examples of the development of Greek sculpture.

What subjects appear in the Aphaia pediments?

Homeric/mythological battle scenes.