Greek Pottery and Sculpture

Evidence of archaeological movement through pottery

Immigration, culture, learning

Creators of wheeled pottery

Sumerians

Origination of kiln use

Egyptians and Kush people

Start of pottery

Iron age

Bronze age pottery

Practical, Often carried household items, many forms

Bronze Age pottery that carried wine or oil

Amphora

Greek settlements at the beginning of Greece

West Coast Asia and the Northern Aegean

Major Occurrences of Bronze Age

Strong trade with North East, city/states were created, wealth increase, craftsmanship increase

Style using concentric circles

Proto-geometric

Qualities of proto-geometric

simple, bold, circular designs, symmetry

Characteristics of Geometric Style

Stylized lines, human and animal figures, meander line work, silhouette figures, dark lines separating body, Egyptian influence

Use of Geometric Art

Large funeral markings with holes in the bottoms for offerings like wine

Period following Geometric where Athenians dominated

Archaic

Characteristics of Archaic Pottery

Panel scenes, depicted greek mythology and everyday life, increased detail

How to make Archaic Pottery

Clay is mined and washed, wheel is manually spun, a foot is added, colored slip is painted onto clay, slip was then etched, different minerals helped create different colors, clay is fired and different carbon presences created black and red figures.

Red Figure Pottery

Red silhouettes, details were painted not etched, more depth and detail

Archaic Sculpture Characteristics

uneven proportion, eyes closed, hands in fists, left foot forward, archaic smile, long braided hair, naked body, influenced by Egypt

Name for Archaic sculptures

Kouros (male), Kore (female)

Term for shifting weight

Contrapposto

Turning point to classical period

Kritios Boy

Characteristics of Kritios Boy

youthful, skinner, more detail/better proportions, greek jawline and hair, shows movement

Period after Archaic

Classical Period

Characteristics of Classical Period

Movement, focus on perfect human body

Discus Thrower

Created by Myron, Roman barbie doll, arcs creating focal point, extremely low body fat

Myron’s focus

Perfection

The Poseidon/ Zeus of Artemisium

Cast in bronze, missing something in his hand, shows intricate movement, bulky physique

Reasons why the Sculpture is Zeus?

A trident would obscure his face, Wide gap for a thunderbolt, The shine from silver and bronze

Spear Bearer

By Polyclitus, perfectly proportioned

Math number of beauty

Phi, 1.618

The golden ratio (divine proportion)

A is 1.618 times B, B is 1.618 times C, B+C=A

Nike Fastening Her Sandle

Freeze/ relief sculpture