Classical and Hellenistic Greek Art and Architecture

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering Classical and Hellenistic Greek architecture, sculpture, terminology, and key archaeological monuments.

Temple of Zeus at Olympia

A monumental Doric temple dating to c. 460 BCE characterized by columns with a height of 32 Doric feet, an interaxial spacing of 16 Doric feet, an abacus width of 8 Doric feet, and architectural refinements including corner contraction and thickened corner columns.

Severe Style

An Early Classical sculptural style exemplified by the innovative, dynamic designs seen on metopes 1–6 from the west (back) end of the Temple of Zeus at Olympia.

Parataxis

A conservative compositional arrangement in Greek sculpture wherein figures are placed side-by-side without subordination or visual intertwining, seen on the East metopes and East pediment of the Temple of Zeus at Olympia.

Peplophoros

A woman or goddess wearing a peplos, notably characterizing the depiction of Athena in the East metope showing the Apples of the Hesperides from the Temple of Zeus at Olympia.

Centauromachy (Olympia West Pediment)

The violent mythical conflict between Lapiths and Centaurs represented on the West pediment of the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, presided over by a central figure of Apollo.

Delphi Charioteer

A life-size bronze statue measuring 5' 11" in height, dedicated by Polyzalos, tyrant of Gela, at Delphi.

"Zeus" or "Poseidon" from Cape Artemision

A bronze statue measuring 6' 10.5" in height, dating to c. 460 BCE, recovered from a shipwreck off Cape Artemision.

Paestum

An ancient Greek colonial city plan laid out with designated sacred buildings, public areas, and sanctuary precincts, including the Temple of Athena, a bouleuterion (city council), an agora, the Temple of Hera, and the Temple of Zeus or Poseidon.

Tomb of the Diver

A painted stone cist tomb from Paestum dating to c. 470–460 BCE, renowned for ceiling and wall frescoes depicting a diver leaping into water and reclining banquet guests in a symposion scene.

Periklean Building Programme

The grand 5th-century BCE monumental construction initiative on the Athenian Akropolis that included the Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Temple of Athena Nike, and the Temple of Athena Polias ("Erechtheum").

Chiasmus ("Strife motif")

An X-shaped compositional device employed in Greek relief sculpture, particularly visible in the Parthenon metopes, to convey dramatic physical tension and movement during combat.

Hydriaphoroi

Water-carriers carrying vessels on their shoulders, as depicted on the Parthenon North Frieze during the Panathenaic procession.

Varvakeion Statuette

A 2nd-century CE Roman souvenir copy made of marble (measuring 3' 5.5" high) reproducing Pheidias' colossal chryselephantine cult statue of Athena Parthenos.

Propylaia

The monumental entrance gateway to the Athenian Akropolis designed by Mnesikles and constructed between 437 and 432 BCE, meaning "gates" (the singular form being propylaion).

Erechtheion

An asymmetrical Ionic complex on the Athenian Akropolis (begun c. 432–421 BCE, halted in 413 BCE, finished 409–405 BCE) built across multiple terrace levels using Eleusinian limestone, featuring separable units and a south porch with caryatids.

Caryatid

A sculpted draped female figure serving as an architectural column or pillar, used prominently on the south porch of the Erechtheion supporting an entablature featuring dentils instead of a frieze.

Nike Adjusting Her Sandal

A Classical relief carving from the parapet wall surrounding the Temple of Athena Nike on the Athenian Akropolis, illustrating transparent, clinging "wet drapery."

Doryphoros (Canon)

A bronze spear-bearer statue sculpted c. 440 BCE by Polykleitos of Argos to demonstrate his theoretical treatise, the Canon, expressing concepts of symmetria, harmonia, and to eu ("the good").

Nike by Paionios

A marble statue of Nike standing 6' 5" in height, dedicated at Olympia c. 420 BC and carved by the sculptor Paionios.

Stele of Hegeso

An Attic funerary stele from Athens carved c. 400 BC, portraying the seated deceased woman Hegeso examining jewelry from a box held by an attendant slave.

Daochos Monument

A 330s BCE dedication at Delphi offered by a Thessalian family, consisting of a long statue base bearing statues of family athletes and ancestors, such as Agias, Telemachos, Agelaos, Sisyphos, and Daochos.

Apollo Sauroktonos

A 4th-century BCE sculpture by Praxiteles meaning "lizard-killer," representing a youthful Apollo about to kill a lizard climbing a tree trunk (symbolizing Apollo killing Python), reflective of Praxitelean anti-classicism.

Knidian Aphrodite

A famous 4th-century BCE sculpture by Praxiteles that pioneered full female nudity in monumental Greek sculpture by depicting Aphrodite about to bathe.

Apoxyomenos

A sculpture by Lysippos known as "the Scraper" (Greek original c. 330 BCE) showing an athlete removing oil and dust from his outstretched arm using a strigil, establishing new elongated bodily proportions.

Antikythera Youth

A bronze statue dating to c. 350 BC recovered from the sea off Antikythera, interpreted as either Perseus holding Medusa's head or an athlete holding a ball.

Abduction of Persephone Wall Painting

A dynamic 4th-century BCE fresco from a Macedonian royal tomb at Vergina depicting Hades seizing Persephone in his chariot.

Temple of Apollo at Didyma

A colossal Hellenistic dipteral sanctuary in Ionia designed with an unroofed interior courtyard (sekos) that housed a small naiskos shrine.

Nike of Samothrace

A Hellenistic marble statue measuring 8' 1" in height (c. 180 BCE, attributed possibly to Pythokritos of Rhodes) depicting the winged goddess of victory landing on the prow of a warship.

Laocoön and His Sons

A dramatic Hellenistic sculptural group attributed by Pliny to the Rhodian sculptors Hagesandros, Athenodoros, and Polydoros (variously dated to 1st cent. BCE, 2nd cent. BCE, or 1st cent. CE) depicting the Trojan priest and his two sons being crushed by sea serpents.

Pathos

The depiction of intense emotional torment, pain, and physical suffering, famously embodied in the facial expressions and twisting forms of the Laocoön sculpture.