Greek mythology played a large role in Greek artistic styles and functions. In the case of this study, the mythological god Apollo is the subject of the artistic works of the votive known as the “Mantiklos Apollo” and the statue of “Apollo” that was found in Pireaus. These figures show a natural progression in style and technique. They are important because they represent the sacred beliefs and superstitions of their respective cultures and time periods.
The two stylistic periods represented in this study, are the Geometric period and archaic period leading into the early Classical period. The Geometric period was a time of renaissance that took place around 900-700 BC (after the fall of the Mycenaeans.) This was a time where the Greek Islands were experiencing growth, urbanization, and political division, as well as exploration of new lands, trade, and a stronger development of written and spoken language. Homer’s epic tale the Iliad was believed to be written around this time. The Geometric period gave rise to a greater amount of worship of multiple gods, creating the need for more temples to store votives (such as the Mantiklos Apollo) that were dedicated to these deities. The geometric period can be identified by their use of repeated registers of geometric shapes on pottery, and symmetrical and triangular shapes in sculpture. Most sculptures and pottery at this time were formulated using bronze or terracotta. The second style is from the late archaic/early
Hellenistic art, let alone architecture, was a period of dramatic transformations that deterred greatly from the Greek Classical period. While the Classical Greek concepts were not entirely abandoned, the Hellenistic period expanded the formal horizons with dramatic posing, sweeping lines, and high contrast of light, shadow and emotion, something greatly different from the Classical artists ideas. The conventions and rules of the Classical period gave way to experimentation and a sense of freedom that allowed the artists of the Hellenistic period to explore their subjects from unique points of view that they had not previously done. The Altar to Zeus in Pergamon is the perfect representation of the Hellenistic period. Pergamon contained
Hellenistic art was engaged more on perfection of the human frame, accuracy and detail. Models from Greek times looked more God-like than human. Hellenic art depended on the new thought of authenticity. Hellenic figures were molded into sensible, blamed human structures. Art in the Hellenic world art epitomized richness, cheerful nature, and coarse with. Marble statues and reliefs described human greatness and sensuality. Art in Hellenistic world emphasize extraordinary naturalism and unashamed luxury. Art in Hellenistic and Hellenic showed feelings and other components filled with different
I will be responding on art from Ancient Greece. Firstly, Geometric Art. It is a period when figured painting returned back to Greece. This art includes Dipylon Krater, it is one of the old example from this art. The krater’s surface was covered with precisely painted abstract angular motifs in horizontal bands. There are human figures, animals, and furniture are as two-dimensional as the geometric shapes elsewhere on the vessel. I think Geometric artists revived the art of storytelling in pictures. In addition to this there was Herakles and Nessos, it was one of the most impressive Geometric art. This statuette depicts a hero battling a centaur an early example of mythological narrative.In this art there is a figure of humans of which both have beards and wear helmets, but the man is larger than the horse to indicate that he will be the victor. The Egypt style was not good enough for Greeks, therefore, they used real human bodies for art. They studied everything in detail about human body. The artist used to create creativity and produce those which was ever produced in history of civilization. One of the example of this is kritios boy. It is the first statue to show how a person naturally stands. The sculptor depicted the weight shift from one leg to the other. The head turns slightly, and the Archaic smile is gone.Kritios is one of the most important statues in the
The Iliad, Odyssey, and Epic of Gilgamesh all demonstrate the transformational process of their respective epic heroes through their strengths and weaknesses. Epic heroes such as Achilles, Odysseus, and Gilgamesh all possessed superior qualities that separated them from other individuals. Although their incredible abilities may support the societal perception of strong leadership, their weaknesses caused these characters to hold vices that went against the cultural expectations of what a strong leader should be. Furthermore, they all shared similar experiences in terms of undergoing a difficult situation and changing their approach in an effort for redemption. This paper will be examining the virtues of these epic heroes and the
The first monument this essay will be discussing is the Temple to Zeus at Olympia. The Temple to Zeus was constructed between C. 470 to 450 BCE, having this temple belong to the Early Classical Period. The Temple of Zeus had the typical features of the Doric Order, a perisytle, with a rule that the number of columns on the sides should be one more than double on the front and back (thus the perisytle is 6 X 13), a pronaos, a cella and an opithodomos. The two columns between the anta in the pronaos and the opithodomos align with the columns along the front and back of the temple. The temple was constructed in limestone as well as marble for the roof tiles and the sculptures. Over the entrances of the pronaos and opisthodomos, there were metopes of the 12 labours of Herakles, athla 1-6 over the opithodomos (west) and athla 7-12 over the cella (East). One of the main features that this temple is “good to look at” is because of the pediments. The west pediment depicts the Battle of Lapiths and Centaurs, while the east pediment depictions the horse race of Pelops and Oinomaos. As this is the Temple to Zeus, the figure of Zeus as in the center of the East Pediment, whiles Apollo was the center figure for the west pediment. The
It is hard to think of the ancient world without looking at the Greek and Roman empires. Although similar, the Greek and Roman empires are two different cultures. They existed from 500 B.C.E. to 500 C.E. (Fiero, 2006). One constant in both cultures was their pursuit of perfection in their art and architecture. This paper will examine this pursuit of perfection in both cultures and how their impact is felt in the modern age.
Generally, the ancient Greek art is known to be significant in influencing its culture and even that of other countries. The influence of this ancient art is very common in architecture and sculpture areas. For example, in the Roman Empire, their art was shaped by the Greek models. Considering any architecture or sculpture in the ancient Greek Art, one can clearly understand the culture of the Greek in certain periods. To this end, this research paper considers the architecture of the Minoan Crete, period.
In The Iliad and The Odyssey, Homer has different portrayals of the roles that women play in each epic. These differences are so striking that some readers have even argued that there is a possibility that a woman could have created The Odyssey, modeled after Homer’s Iliad. In The Iliad we see women represented as war prizes and slaves, vulnerabilities to men, and in positions of limited power. In The Odyssey however, we see women capturing men and keeping them as prizes, rising from a status of limited power to dominating their household, and breaking free of the constraints of the “typical” household woman stereotype. We even see them making their own decisions and challenging their husbands. By comparing and contrasting these epic women
Oral stories often establish comprehensive guidelines of how to live honorably. Specifically, they exemplify the actions of heroes who value pietas: an unwavering loyalty to one’s boss, state, and family. Characters adhering to it reap physical and spiritual benefits; those that do not are punished accordingly. This relationship is clearly evident in the ancient Sumerian epic poem, The Epic of Gilgamesh, Homer’s ancient Greek epic poem, The Iliad, and Virgil’s ancient Roman epic poem, The Aeneid. This paper will argue that these texts show that honor is attainable only through pietas. It will conclude that complete commitment to pietas ultimately promotes personal growth through the renouncement of earthly desires.
As the Hellenistic society shifted away from the Classical ideals of perfectionism and idolization of the elites and gods in sculpture, artists began to be fixated on illustrating imperfection of a variety of individuals faced with ruthless authenticity of their emotional struggles. Whereas, Classical architecture focused on dedicating massive structures to the gods to emphasize their divinity, but Hellenistic architecture used advanced technology to exemplify Alexander the Great’s magnificence. Thus, differences in architecture can be seen in the sophisticated town of Alexandria with structures such as the lighthouse that show how Alexander the Great influenced town planning that was centralized on the creation of a superior city, likewise, The Altar at Pergamon expresses the loss of focus on the divine through unique sculptural techniques. Change can also be seen in the sculptures of The Boxer and The Old Market Woman as they are depicted to be imperfectly individualistic and in emotional distress.
The Iliad is an epic tale of war and hero’s within the Greek way of life. A
The Iliad: Book I, is about the conflict between Achilles and Agamemnon in the beginning of the Trojan War. It shows how vigorous Achilles’ rage was and that he is no one to mess with. The book states “Peleus’ son Achilles, murderous, doomed”. This shows his fury in just a few words. Achilles was a Greek hero who was the son of a Goddess named Thetis. He was an incredible solder; brave, violent and godlike. However, Agamemnon was the commander of the Achaean Army. He was greedy, aggressive and selfish. He was described as “the most grasping man alive”. He absolutely hated Achilles. I feel that he was jealous of how respected Achilles was among the ranks in the army because of his superior skills in the field of battle. Agamemnon claimed Chryseis as his prize, after sacking a Trojan town. Chryseis was a daughter of a Priest of Apollo, Chryses. He offered an enormous ransom to get his daughter back. At first Agamemnon didn’t want it but the people round him persuaded him that it would be best to let her go so they could be released from the plague that Apollo put on them. Agamemnon then poised to Achilles that he is going to steal Achilles prize, Briseis. This is when Achilles’ rage shows at its best. He nearly draws his sword to kill Agamemnon but he is stopped by the goddess, Athena.
Greek myths and legends had a huge impact on art and sculpture of Greece, as a result many statues of gods and others mythical beings were created. For example the statue of Zeus(appendix 3) one of the finest sculptures of Greece. This statue was thirteen metres high and was considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. This is proof of the work and smarts put into just one sculpture and it also shows the dedication and belief of the
In almost all instances of war the cause has been related to greed, or the gaining of land and possessions. Greed is presented in the very first book of Homer’s “The Iliad.” It isn’t displayed by the cowards, but the “heroes” of the war such as Agamemnon, Achilles, and Pandarus. The entire cause of the Trojan War is the result of the greedy and cowardly behavior of Paris. There are many factors that had sparked the war, including the interference of the gods; however, the main factor to be blamed for the war is greed.
In the epics The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Iliad, heroes Achilles and Gilgamesh have important relationships with characters that directly and indirectly give readers a look at the character we might not normally see. For the mighty demi-god Achilles, this is the warrior Patroclus, whom he has a great respect for. For the tyrannical King Gilgamesh, this was Enkidu, the hairy man sent by the gods. The relationships that these characters have with their companions open these characters up for readers, and can show the characters in a whole new light. We see tenderness and emotional vulnerability that is uncharacteristic to these characters. Despite there being many things that can be compared in the relationships between these hero’s, there is also a lot that separates them. Unlike Gilgamesh with Enkidu, Achilles does not need Patroclus to understand himself as a person, and does not change his characteristics a great deal before his death. Whereas the tyrannical, brutal King Gilgamesh ends up being someone looked at as a very wise, kind, heroic king, after Enkidu comes into his life and Gilgamesh’s true self is revealed.