Ancient Greek Art, Temples, and Warfare: Key Concepts and Artworks

Sanctuary

A sacred or holy enclosure used for worship, consisting of one or more temples, an altar (or altars), and sacred natural elements such as a rock, a tree, a cave, or a spring.

Oracle

A person, usually a priest or priestess, who acts as a conduit for divine information; also refers to the information itself or the place at which this information is communicated.

Baetyl

A stone thought to be endowed with life or of divine origin and worshipped as though it is the residing place of a god.

Paean

A solemn choral lyric of invocation and/or thanksgiving.

Dithyramb

A Greek choral song or chant of heated and wild character, usually in irregular form.

Karyatid

A sculpture of a draped female figure acting as a column supporting an entablature.

Persian War

A conflict from 499 to 449 BCE where Greek city-states resisted Persian invasion.

Peloponnesian War

A war from 431 BCE to 404 BCE between Athens and Sparta.

Early Classical Period

A transitional period in Greek art from 480 to 450 BCE.

High Classical Period

A period in Greek art from 450 to 400 BCE.

Late Classical Period

A period in Greek art from 400 to 323 BCE.

Symmetria

Having to do with proportion.

Rhythmos

Pattern

Canon

Established rules or standards in art.

Canon of proportions

A set of ideal mathematical ratios in art based on measurements of the human body.

Contrapposto

The twisted pose resulting from parts of the body set in opposition to each other around a central axis.

Charioteer

A statue from the Sanctuary of Apollo, Delphi, dated to 470 BCE.

Discobolus

A Roman copy of the original bronze statue of a Disc Thrower, dated to 460-450 BCE.

Kritios Boy

A statue from the Acropolis, Athens, dated to 480 BCE.

Spear Bearer (Doryphoros)

A Roman copy after the original bronze statue of 450-440 BCE by Polykleitos.

Riace Bronzes

Bronze statues found in Riace, Italy, dated to 460-450 BCE.