Architecture and Fine Artof Classical Greece

Results of the Greek Victory of the Persian Wars

Persian threat is ended – renewed sense of freedom and confidence on the Balkan Peninsula.

Athens, with its powerful navy, becomes the leader of the Delian League.

Athens enters into a golden age of creativity and progress.

Classical Greece: Age of Pericles

Had three goals:

Strengthen the democratic government in Athens

Strengthen the Athenian navy & empire

Glorify, or elevate Athens’ status

Architecture Styles

Column Capital Styles:DoricIonic

Corinthian

Doric Style

seventh century BCE

simple, unassuming

Greek mainland and western colonies

Ionic Style

sixth century BCE

has scroll-like volutes

developed on the Aegean Islands

Corinthian Style Fifth century BCE

uses decorative acanthus leaves

developed in Athens

used often in Roman architecture

Common Themes in Architecture

Balance

Proportion

Simplicity

Elegance

The Parthenon

Porch of the Caryatids

Temple of Zeus

Greek Theater Open air

All male

Used for political and social satire

Greek Tragedy

Themes: love, hate, war, betrayal

Hero: exceptional abilities, but has character flaws Usually ends with hero being punished or killed

Greek Comedy Originated at the festivals for Dionysus

Used to mock people and ideas

Characters, unlike the tragedies, solved their problems

Characteristics of Classical Sculpture

Serene

Unemotional

Perfect

Graceful

Well-formed

Classical Sculpture

More examples…

Greek Philosophy:the pursuit of truth

Socrates

Plato

Aristotle

Socrates

Taught through inquiry Believed in absolute truths Life should be examined We should question our life and

purpose Sentenced to death for corrupting

Athens youth

Plato

Student of Socrates Wrote Socrates teachings Wrote the Republic

– Society governed by a philosopher-king

Established the Academy

Aristotle

Student of Plato Teacher of Alexander the Great

Opens the Lyceum The world can be understood

through observation Forerunner to the scientific

method

The End of Classicism

Sparta and Athens go to war Peloponnesian War 431 B.C. – 404 B.C. In the end Sparta won This effectively ended the Golden Age of

Greece Sparta was not fit or willingly to lead the

world created by Athens

Macedonians Conquer Greece

• In 322 B.C. the Macedonians led by Philip and his son, Alexander conquer Greece

• The ensuing empire built by Alexander ushers in a new era

• This time is called the Hellenistic Era

• It was a blending of Greek, Egyptian, Persian and Indian influences

Hellenistic Art

Realism

Movement

Emotion

Ordinary Subjects

Examples of movement…

Everyday subjects…