Greek and Roman Art2nd ESO

Maira Gil Camarón

Greek ArchitectureTemples

Greek temples were usually built in marble. However, they were originally painted in bright colours, which gradually disappearedGreek temples were rectangular. The Greeks did not use arches and vaults, and flat roofs were supported on columns:

The pronaos was the entrance porch to the templeThe naos was the main hall, where the statue of the

god was keptThe opisthodomos was a back room where offerings

were left

The three ordersThe Greeks were concerned about proportion, beauty and harmony. Their architects followed strict rules, called orders, which determined the style of a building. They developed three architectural systems, called orders, each with their own distinctive proportions and detailing

Greeks build straight arches using a lintel and posts (or beam), and this caused lots of disadvantages:

You need lots of columns You can’t build tall buildings

The ParthenonThe Parthenon was built in Athens in the 5th century BC. It replaced an earlier temple that was destroyed during the Persian invasion in 480 BC.The Parthenon was located on the acropolis, which was the fortified area in the highest part of the city. It was built in honour of the goddess Athena, who was the patron of the city. Inside the temple, there was a huge statue of Athena by the sculptor Phidias

The outside walls were decorated with reliefs of the Panathenaic procession. This was celebrated in Athens every year in honour of Athena

The statue of the goddess Athena was made of gold and ivory. Athena’s helmet was decorated with winged horses and a sphinx. She held a small figure representing victory

The pediments of the Parthenon were decorated with sculptures, which narrated legends about Athena

Metopes were square panels with reliefs. They were placed around the entire building. The sculptures showed battles between giants, centaurs and other mythical creatures

Greek SculptureGreek sculpture and reliefs usually represented gods and heroes, and were made for temples

Sculptors tried to represent human beauty. They believed that a sculpture should show the ideal proportions of the human body

They worked in marble and bronze. They then painted their sculptures in bright colours

Most Greek bronze sculptures have disappeared. However, we know what they looked like because the Romans made marble copies

Greek sculpture evolved over a long period of time: In the Archaic period, sculpture was static and rigid In the Classical period, it became more realistic and

represented ideal beauty In the Hellenistic period, it was expressive and dynamic

HOW DO WE ANALYSE SCUPTURES?

We analyse Greek sculptures in the following way: Movement. Static sculptures belong to the Archaic period. If

they show some movement, they are probably from the Classical period. Very dynamic sculptures are from the Hellenistic period

Expression. The earliest sculptures were stiff and inexpressive. In the Classical period, faces had a natural and serene expression. In the Hellenistic period, they were very expressive

Composition. In the Classical period, sculptures were balanced and harmonious

ARCHAIC PERIOD

Kouros from Anavysos, 6th century BC. A kouros was a standing sculpture showing a warrior or athlete

Peplos kore, 6th century BC. A kore was a standing female figure. This kore was perhaps a goddess

CLASSICAL PERIOD

CANON. In the 5th century BC, the sculptor Polykleitos established a canon (or rule) for human beauty. The height of a human body should be seven times its head. In the 4th century BC, the sculptor Praxiteles established a new canon. The height of a human body should be eight times its head

Diskobolus, by Miron, 5th century

Aphrodite, by Cnidus, 4th century

HELLENISTIC PERIOD

Laocoon and his sons, 1st centry BC

They Dying Gaul, 3rd century BC

Aphrodite of Milos, 2nd century BC

Winged Victory of Samothrace (Nike of Samothrace), 2nd century BC

Roman ArchitectureThe Romans built a large scale monumental buildings for public use. They also carried out many practical engineering projects, like aqueducts, bridges and roads

The Romans use stone, like the Greeks. But they also use mortar, concrete and bricks so their constructions were extremely solid

The Romans were influenced by Greek architecture. However, they added their features like the arch and vault

Amphitheatre (photo: Coliseum, 1st century AD). They were round. They were used for fights between gladiators and wild animals

Pantheon (2nd century AD). It was commissioned by Agrippa and completed by Hadrian.

Roman sculptureMany Roman sculpture were copies of Greek ones, but the also made original sculptures

Roman portraits were very realistic The Romans put sculptures of emperor and other famous

people in the forum. They could be standing figures or equestrian figures

Reliefs on triumphal arches told the story of Rome’s military victories

Roman Painting Romans painted portraits, scenes from everyday life,

animals and scenes from myths and legends Murals (paintings on walls) were used to decorate private

houses and public buildings like the baths. The Romans were the first people to paint landscapes

Small paintings were done on wooden panels. Wood doesn’t last forever, so very few of these paintings have survived

Mosaics were used to decorated the walls and floors of buildings. The Romans used small pieces of stone, glass or ceramic of different colours to make pictures