Chapter 13 Study Notes on Archaic and Early Classical Greek Art

Archaic and Early Classical Greek Art

Overview of Chapter 13

  • Focus: Development of Archaic and Early Classical Greek Art from June to April.

  • Significance: Establishes foundation for classical architecture in Europe and the United States.

Key Terms

  • Importance of identifying features of Greek architecture.

  • Numerous terms due to architectural developments within this period.

Map and Settlement Focus

  • Map shows Greek and Phoenician centers of settlement.

  • Lecture focuses on green highlighted areas from chapters 9 and 10.

  • Geographical focus: Regions of Vesicles, Crete, and Mycenae.

  • Emergence of independent city-states: Athens, Corinth, and Sparta.

Population Insights

  • By March, Athens had a population exceeding 400,000.

  • Art discovered during the Archaic period primarily located at sanctuary sites (e.g., Delphi, Athens).

  • Sanctuaries consisted of: temples, outdoor altars, treasuries, theaters, and residential areas.

Greek Vase Painting Examples

Geometric and Proto-Archaic Periods

  • Characterization: Geometric patterns, spirals, diamonds.

  • Example: Crater from the Diphylon Cemetery in Athens, dating to about July.

    • Function: Grave marker for liquid offerings; over three feet tall with open base for offerings to ground.

    • Imagery: Funeral procession with mourners, horses, and the deceased organized in registers.

    • Top register: Mourners depicted as geometric shapes (circles for heads, triangles for torsos).

    • Lower register: Funerary procession includes overlapping horses and soldiers; portrays Greek beliefs and burial rituals.

  • Contrast with Egyptian funerary art, focusing on the emotions of living mourners rather than the deceased.

Corinthian Vase Example

  • Example: Corinthian olpe from Proto-Archaic period, made around June.

  • Features: Exotic motifs, hybrid creatures influenced by West Asian art like Mesopotamia and Egypt.

  • Imagery: Boars, lions, panthers, swans, a siren; organized in registers with decorative rosettes.

  • Example of Greek pottery versatility for daily life use.

Early Greek Temples

Materials and Architectural Features

  • Early temples made of wood and brick; transitioned to stone (marble, limestone) around 600 BCE.

  • Characteristics of Archaic period Greek temples:

    • Peripheral temples with peristyle (row of columns) resting on stylobate (raised steps).

    • Kella or naos: interior room housing the deity's statue.

    • Design concerns: balance, clarity, beautiful proportions, approximately 2:1 length to width ratio.

    • Common structure: 13 columns on the long side, 6 on the short side.

Orders of Architecture

  • Two systems evolved: Doric order and Ionic order.

    • Doric Order:

    • Common in Mainland Greece; massive, simple columns without bases, resting directly on stylobate.

    • Capital is simple; frieze alternating triglyphs and metopes with relief sculpture.

    • Ionic Order:

    • Common on Aegean Islands; slender, decorative columns with bases and volute capitals.

    • Continuous frieze allows for extensive sculptural decoration.

    • Corinthian Order:

    • Later development not covered until the next chapter.

Sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi

Location and Importance

  • Sacred site: center of Greek religion, sitting atop Mount Karnassus.

  • Function: site for religious rituals, oracles providing guidance to individuals on problems.

  • Development: Includes other temples and treasuries for offerings, athletic games, and theaters.

Architecture and Layout

  • Entrance through a ceremonial gate leading up the sacred way.

  • Several stoas for gathering spaces and multiple treasuries, including the Siphnean Treasury (housing votive offerings).

Scythian Treasury and Karyatids

Architectural Structure

  • Scythian Treasury: small, luxurious temple in Ionic style with karyatids (architectural support using dressed female figures).

  • Features detailed reliefs and karyatids that replace columns in temple designs.

  • High reliefs depict scenes from the Trojan War.

Pediment and Frieze Imagery

East Pediment Details

  • Reliefs depicting Heracles stealing the tripod from Apollo, central figure Zeus acting as arbiter.

  • Continuous frieze showcases gods and goddesses of Olympus versus Trojans in battle.

  • Imagery of giants (Gigantomachy) symbolizes triumph of wisdom (Olympian gods) over chaos (giants).

Early Greek Temple Examples

Temple of Hera 1 and 2

  • Location: Peshtum, Italy, showcases Doric architecture.

  • Features: raised stylobate, post and lintel construction, three entrance columns, interior divided by a central row of columns.

Sanctuary of Aphaea at Aegina

  • Characteristics: Doric temple with refined columns, metopes, triglyphs, and clear centered entrance.

Sculpture Development in Archaic Period

Kouros and Kore Figures

  • Naked male figures (Kouros) and clothed female figures (Kore) serve as grave markers and votive offerings.

  • Metropolitan Kouros emphasizes idealized youth and male beauty; Peplos Kore reflects clothing and naturalism.

  • Influence from Egyptian sculpture evident, particularly in rigid poses, although with Greek stylization and abstraction.

  • Vibrant original color schemes contrasted with the plain marble appearance seen today.

Transition to Naturalism

  • Anavyssos Kouros dates to about May, showcasing earlier naturalistic features; muscularity and more openness in pose.

  • Introduction of the Archaic smile signifies lifelike representation.

Important Works by Artist Ezekiel

  • Amphora showcasing Achilles and Ajax in a board game demonstrates narrative focus over multiple registers.

  • Impressive detail on clothing and hair, integrating vibrant artistry with themes pertinent to narratives of impending war.

Early Classical Period Transition

Sculpture Evolution

  • Critias Boy exemplifies movement towards naturalism and classical style; introduces contrapposto, thus showcasing dynamic state of motion.

  • Bronze begins to dominate sculpture as a medium, allowing for more intricate and dynamic poses.

Bronze Sculptures Example

  • Male Charioteer of Delphi: Early large bronze, commemorating a victory in chariot racing.

  • Zeus in warrior pose: Indicates dynamic representation properties of bronze; debated identity as Zeus or Poseidon.

Concluding Remarks on Greek Art

  • Sculpture legacy evolves, indicating shift of gods portrayed as more humanistic, reflecting greater understanding of human experience and emotion.