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Architecture

Ancient Greek Paintings

* Most original art work

has been lost or badly

damaged :(

  • People showed pride in Athens by building temples, gymnasiums, and theaters

  • The original city state of Athens was built on a tall hill called an acropolis

  • The Parthenon and the statue of the goddess Athena are examples of exemplary greek architecture

  • The Parthenon had perfectly balanced proportion and had doors and a few windows

  • Temples were built as shrines for the gods, not as a meeting place for worshipers

  • Pericles began building the Parthenon in 447 B.C. and it took about 14 years to complete

  • Engraved above the columns were scenes from myths

* Knowledge of Greek

paintings comes from

written descriptions

and from later Roman

Copies.

* An important form

of art in ancient Greece.

*Best preserved Greek

paintings are found on

vases.

*The Greeks initially adopted styles of painting from other cultures (Egypt), then transformed them into their own

*Greek vase painters

illustrated scenes from

every day life as well as

mythological events

Introduction

If one is searching for good art, look no further than ancient Greece. Some of the best art comes from this ancient civilization. A few examples of these are from what historians call the Golden Age of Greek culture, a period during the 400s B.C.E. Probably the most prominent and famous symbol of this age is the city-state of Athens. The city’s wealth of resources attracted artists and philosophers from around the land. It is the architecture, painting, sculpture, and nature of Greek art that made this the golden age of Greek art.

The Nature of Greek Art

Art was used as a medium to express the fundamental values of the Greeks.

The 4 main ways to convey the Greek ideals was through the appreciation of different art styles:

1. The Greeks used paintings and sculptures to portray their idealistic views of beauty

  • the statues built suggest other traits admired by the Greeks, such as strength, intelligence, pride, grace and courage

2. Since art was an expressive medium, it represented their pride in their city-states

  • the art of the golden age was meant to honor and glorify their gods

3. Greek art expressed the Greek beliefs in harmony, balance, order and moderation through simplicity and restraint

4. The combination of beauty and usefulness

Sculptures

  • Adept at sculpting human form

  • Paid attention to muscles, features, and movement

  • Not interested in depicting people as they really look

  • Depicts beauty and grace; no blemishes or imperfections

  • Myron and Phidias were two of histories greatest sculptures

  • Praxiteles was a great sculptor who sculpted more lifelike and natural figures in form and size

  • Statue of Zeus (made by Phidias) is now one of the seven wonders of the world

Conclusion

One can therefore tell that some of the greatest pieces of art come from Greece. The acropolis of Athens, as well as the Parthenon, are examples of Greek architecture. While the Greek paintings may not be as famous as others, they certainly are impressive with their details of myths and stories. The sculptures of Greece are more recognizable, with the sculptors Myron, Phidias, and Praxiteles making works such as the discus thrower or the statue of Zeus at Olympia. The nature of Greek art is again striking, being focused on human beauty and philosophy. It is clear then, that this era was truly the Golden Age of Greek culture.

Golden Age of Greek Art

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