Ancient Greek Culture and Architecture

ANCIENT GREECE

  • Emerged after the decline of the Minoan-Mycenaean civilizations in 1200 BC.
  • Developed a system of writing in 800 BC, derived from the Phoenicians.
  • Lack of strong national identity; established city-states instead.
  • Averse to autocratic rule; founded democracy.
  • Humanistic and secular beliefs: “Man is the measure of all things.”

HISTORICAL PERIODS

Geometric and Orientalizing (circa 900-600 BC)
  • Revival of figure painting.
  • Introduction of Eastern motifs.
Archaic (circa 600-480 BC)
  • Introduction of Doric and Ionic architectural orders.
  • Creation of the first life-size Greek statues.
  • Innovations in black- and red-figure vase paintings.
Early and High Classical (circa 480-400 BC)
  • Use of naturalized poses in sculpture.
  • Building of the Acropolis under Pericles.
Late Classical (circa 400-323 BC)
  • Humanized representations of deities in art.
  • Introduction of the Corinthian order.
Hellenistic (circa 323-30 BC)
  • Artists explore new subjects and representations in art and architecture.

VASE PAINTING

Geometric Style
  • Characterized by rectilinear meander patterns framed by circular horizontal borders to emphasize the pot's shape.
Orientalizing Style
  • Characterized by the assimilation of Eastern iconography.
  • Shapes become larger and more curvilinear; geometric patterns limited to borders.
Archaic Period
  • Black-figure painting: Artists painted figures in black silhouette using a slip made of water and clay.
  • Red-figure painting: The process was reversed; figures remain red against a black background, with details painted in black.
Classical to Late Classical Period
  • White-ground painting: A wash of white clay forms the background; figures are applied in black with added colors.
Greek Vases
  1. Hydria - water jar.
  2. Lekythos - oil flask.
  3. Krater - bowl for mixing wine and water.
  4. Oenochoe - jug for pouring wine.
  5. Amphora - vessel for storing honey, olive oil, wine, and water.
  6. Kylix - drinking cup.

SCULPTURE

Archaic Period
  • Sculptures share similarities with Egyptian conventions.
      - Kouros: Male statue.
      - Kore: Female statue.
  • Featured the “archaic smile.”
Early Classical Period
  • Contrapposto: A sculptural scheme where the human figure stands with weight on one leg, freeing the other leg, bent at the knee.
  • Notable works include:
      1. Kritios Boy (480 BC)
      2. Diskobolos by Myron (450 BC)
Classical Period
  • Art from this period showcases cultural and intellectual achievements of the Greeks, influencing Western art.
  • Characteristics include:
      - Idealization, balance, harmony (symmetria), contrapposto poses, and calm expressions.
Late Classical to Hellenistic
  • Characterized by dramatic poses, sweeping lines, and high contrasts of light and shadow to convey emotion.
  • A shift from the strict conventions of the classical period towards experimentation and a sense of artistic freedom.

ARCHITECTURE

Architectural Orders
  • A set of rules or principles for designing buildings, encompassing both aesthetic and structural elements.
  • Classical Order: Established in Greece or Rome from roughly 850 BC to 476 AD.
      - Greek Orders:
        - Doric Order: Earliest and most massive; columns have no base, featuring a fluted shaft and plain capital.
        - Ionic Order: Lighter than Doric; fluted shaft has a base and features a volute capital.
        - Corinthian Order: A variant of Ionic, characterized by a plinth, fluted shaft, and ornate capital.
Major Parts of an Order
  1. Base/Stylobate
  2. Column Shaft
  3. Entablature
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
  • Stylobate: Top of three steps forming the Doric order's base.
  • Necking: A snug band at the top of the column shaft.
  • Echinus: Cushion-like molding transitioning from column to flat square abacus.
  • Abacus: A flat block creating a transition from the column to the architrave.
  • Architrave: The first element of the entablature, acts as the lintel in post & lintel construction.
  • Frieze: A continuous horizontal band within the entablature, often decorated with sculptures or paintings for aesthetic and narrative purposes.
  • Metope: Rectangular sections on Doric friezes alternating with triglyphs, often decorated with reliefs or sculptures.
  • Triglyph: Three sculpted vertical grooves that alternate with metopes on the frieze.
  • Cornice: A thin, horizontal projection over the frieze, serving as a decorative crown.
  • Pediment: A triangular gable above the horizontal structure of the cornice or entablature.

CARYATIDS AND TELAMONES

Caryatids
  • Draped Classical female figures used as structural support; appear with the Ionic order.
  • Can be referred to as korai or depicted as figures bearing baskets on their heads known as canephores.
  • Famously seen at the Temple of Erechtheum.
Telamones
  • The male counterpart of the caryatid.

CLASSICAL MOULDINGS

  • Fillet: A narrow, flat band serving as a holding or division between larger moldings.
  • Astragal: A moulding of half-round profile.
  • Corona: The flat vertical member of a cornice, lower edge is a drip.
  • Cavetto: A concave moulding about a quarter round.
  • Scotia: A concave moulding approximating a parabolic profile.
  • Ovolo: A convex profile with its lower extremity receding from the vertical plane.
  • Cyma Recta: A projecting composite molding with an S-profile, consisting of cavetto above ovolo; known as cymatium when crowning.
  • Cyma Reversa: Also known as ogee, a projecting molding used as a crown or base, reversing the cyma recta.
  • Dentils: Rectangular, tooth-like blocks arranged in rows along the cornice.
  • Torus: A large semi-circular profile moulding found just above the classical column base.

OPTICAL REFINEMENTS

  • Entasis: Architectural optical refinement where columns have a curvature to correct visual illusion from normal tapering.
  • Stylobate curvature: Stylobate is intentionally curved upward toward the center to counter the optical illusion of sagging straight lines.

ARCHITECTURAL TYPOLOGIES

  1. Agora: A public square; center of social, political, and commercial activity in the city.
  2. Stoa: A colonnaded multi-purpose building extending the functions of the agora.
  3. Temple: Early plans derived from Mycenaean Megaron, evolving into peripteral plans with elaborate facades in established Orders.
       - Parts include:
         1. Pronaos: Porch.
         2. Naos: Inner sanctuary.
         3. Opisthodomos: Back porch.
  4. Theaters:
       - Theatron or Koilon: Open-air auditorium.
       - Odeon: Small, covered theaters.
       - Stadium: Elongated theaters for races.
       - Hippodrome: Venue for horse and chariot racing.

       - Parts of Greek Theater include:
         1. Orchestra: Large circular area for performance; often contains statues of deities.
         2. Proscenium: Acting area behind the orchestra.
         3. Scene: Backdrop or dressing structure.
         4. Parados: Entrances/exits flanking the orchestra.
  5. Palestra/Gymnasium:
       - Gymnasium: Space for physical training, later expanded for scholarly activities.
       - Palestra: Open courtyard for wrestling and sports.
  6. Bouleterion: Council house; covered meeting space.
  7. Prytaneion: Senate house; place for entertainment.
  8. Mausoleum: Large tomb or building housing one or more tombs.

ARCHITECTURAL LANDMARKS

  1. Acropolis: Ancient Greek city known as the "high city"; contains key structures from several periods.
  2. Parthenon: Temple dedicated to Athena, namesake of the city.
  3. Erechtheum: Structure built in 5th BCE serving multiple shrine functions, including for Erechtheus and Athena.
  4. Temple of Athena Nike
  5. Choragic Monument of Lysicrates
  6. Temple of Dionysius
  7. Odeon of Herodes Atticus
  8. Temple of Pergamon