Visual Aspects of Mythology During The Greco-Roman Era Ancient Greece took Great Pride in Flawlessnes and Perfection

It is a common theme for groups of artist to revolt against their predecessors and the common standards that the pervious community of artist held. This is seen repeatedly from the ancient Greeks, whose bronze and marble sculptures developed around the perfection of the male human form, to the transition to the Romans their ideas followed the individual they sculpted busts of the great leaders and the common people of many different ages showing the uniqueness of all of them. This change was also apart of the architecture, Greek temples focused decorations on the outside of the temples on the metopes with sculptures, almost in the round, to show visitors the wealth of their towns were as the Romans focus the the decorations on the inside they were showing off for themselves.

Ancient Greek stands in an important position in the art history. Ancient Greek art proper emerged during the eigth century BCE. Classical and Hellenistic period are the most impressive eras of Greece. There are many values of Greek 's culture become the fundamental tenets of today 's western civilization. Greeks created the concept of democracy and make a huge contributions in the fields of science, literature and art. Ancient Greece 's art and architecture also have a strong influential to western society. Moreover, the Greeks made their gods into humans and their humans into gods. The perfect individual became the Greek ideal and the portrayal of beautiful humans became the focus of many of the greatest Greek artists. Greek ideal is one of the most important cultures of Greece and it also has a great influence of Greek religion, philosophy and society. The art work of Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic Period have shown that Greek has achieved their lofty goals in many aspects of their civilization.

When people wonder about Ancient Greece the first thing that comes to their minds is Greek mythology; gods and goddesses that have helped shape many historical events. “In ancient Greece, stories about gods and goddesses and heroes and monsters were an important part of everyday life.” (“Greek Mythology.”) The civilization showed that numerous characters and stories helped shape Greeks. The beliefs the Greeks had with mythologies was they understood the meaning behind all the characters that are known today. However, to the Greeks, they were not just characters, these were their gods and goddesses who gave them meaning and understanding of the world around them. Worshiping the gods and goddesses helped them with their religious rituals and the temperament of the weather. A famous wine-jar that was made during this time period was “Achilles killing the Amazon Queen Penthesilea, 540-530 BCE, black-figured amphora”. (Khan Academy) The civilization that they lived in grew around their worship and achievements.

Ancient Greek stands in an important position in the art history. Classical and Hellenistic period are the most impressive periods of Greece. There are many values of Greek 's culture become the fundamental principle of today 's civilization especially for the weatern society. Greeks created the concept of democracy and make a huge contributions in the fields of science, literature and art. Moreover, the Greeks also imagined their gods into humans and their humans into gods. The Greek ideal is to become a perfect individual and the representation of attractive human beings. It became the focus of the artists in Greek. Greek ideal is one of the most important cultures of Greece and it has a great influence of Greek religion, philosophy and society. The art work of Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic Period have proved that Greek has achieved their lofty goals in many aspects of their civilization.

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

In many ways Roman sculpture went further than the Greek’s with magnificent displays of humanism and opulent Gods. Greek sculptures focused on extremely masculine portrays of man but with dimensions that were more or less reasonable in comparison to our human bodies. They were looking for perfection of a physical human body, and in the way the human body was sculpted. The Roman’s would put on great displays of grandeur, examples that can be seen through the busts and full-length sculptures such as Augustus of Prima

Roman patrons and artists maintained Greek art and customs into Early Christian and Byzantine times. So strong in fact that Romans urged to emulate the work of the Greek artists whom came before them, replicating Greek artworks much like the Statue of Hercules. This remarkable Statue of Hercules

Greece was more idealized of beauty of the human form more so with the warrior body, and the use of new techniques to properly represent naturalistic features that will be constant. Greece had pride in their warriors and in their strength paying close attention to that in any way they could. Emphasizing in using naturalism better fit their view of beauty. In changing to a simple straight standing sculpture to an open form, in movement sculpture like the Disco thrower, the body form, curves the use of contrapposto the first sign of full movement. To Rome in their political strengths, and the verism of the portrait bust represent the truth, age, experience and lineage this was only to once again change in time. More interest in the mind and how they’d use that for their advantages in creation of architecture, weapons or portrait all show the brilliance of Rome. The use of symbolism plays crucial parts in all the cultures and works of art, they will share insight on what was being said at that time and what did the artist want you to see. All the works of art shows the time period was filled with humanistic changes that were direct effects of war, power changes like emperors, the styles, the plagues, deaths, coming of religions. The use of what was taking place was how the works of art even came to be if it was

Art was valued throughout Greece and a lot of time and resources were dedicated towards the creation and study of art. Greece used art to enhance daily life. They had built amazing structures that valued gods and showed how much potential they had to become an empire. Building these statues and pyramids cost a lot of money, needed lots of time and also needed loyal soldiers to build for them. The Greeks also used pottery, painting and drawing for banquets or to honor great gods. They thought it was important to honor the important events in their history such as wars. Plays and poems were put on to showcase these major events. The Greeks were very dedicated to art which had helped them become an empire and now the Greeks love for art has been

Ancient Greece, a time when the Greeks believed that the world was governed by gods and goddesses. This belief dates back to almost 3000 BC, where the people of Crete, the largest island in Greece, believed that all natural objects had spirits, and that certain objects, had special magical powers. Over time, these beliefs developed into a set of legends involving natural objects, animals, and gods with a human form that would lay the foundations of western civilization. It all started with the primordial deities, the first gods and goddesses that came into existence. This most notably includes Uranus and Gaea, the Father of the sky and the Mother of Earth. Uranus and Gaea had many offspring, including the twelve Titans and others such as

Ancient Greeks took their inspiration from the human form. It became the basis for Greek art as well as a driving force behind mythology and philosophy. Greek sculpture tended to be life-sized, not massive and imposing like that of other great civilizations. The figure was designed to mirror reality in an idealized way, such as regular facial features, smooth skin and particular body proportions. The ancient Greeks aimed for perfection in their creation of art, philosophy, and all manner of other expression. The Greeks' use of the human figure is prevalent and can be considered the central focus in the highest forms sculpture.

In the Ancient Greeks, religion was based on the image of remarkable and memorable god and goddess which were powerful, wise, immortal and controlled different part of the universe. For many years humans had the opportunity to study these significant figures by reading their myths, stories where our minds are transported to the early time of civilization in which the god and goddess lived and became the important figures that we know nowadays. One of the god that make himself stand out using his wisdom and his abilities was Hermes. He is the god of trade, travelers, thieves, athletes, border crossing, guide to the Underworld and often known as the messenger of the gods. While many gods are incredible gifted with strength and power, Hermes represents cleverness, determination and a powerful musician.

The phrase “kalos kagathos” has been on my mind since reading “The Aesthetic Ideal in Ancient Greece” in History of Beauty, a few days ago. Of the small yet existing knowledge of Grecian sculpture, I know that when employed by wealthy aristocrats, the sculptor would sculpture the subject’s head as so but then the body of the sculpture would be in response to what a God’s body; muscular and perfect in every way. I respect the idea that the Greeks believed in the harmonizing of the body and the soul however it maybe my misunderstanding but to me the way they approached sculpture it somewhat misleading. It is as though Grecians speak of beautiful so eloquent and efficiently but they do not strive for it in their personal life. Also of the readings

"A myth is a collective term denoting a symbolic narrative in religion, as distinguished from symbolic behavior (cult, ritual) and symbolic places or objects (temples, icons)". (The New Encyclopedia Britannica. Vol. 24)Mythology is a collection of myths meant to explain the universe. Mythological stories were told in many different cultures and civilizations. The existence of myths is known in every society. Many different myths were conceived to explain occurrences that happened in nature.

Throughout the course of time, different civilizations across the world hold one thing in common by which a society or culture can be based upon or help influence the structure. The one common thing that has help a civilization grow throughout the period of time would be the formation of a religion. Religion is a center point for many societies throughout history. As the center for the different civilizations, it helped form their different traditions and customs. The same could be said about the people of ancient Greece, where religion or mythology played an important role in their lives as it was the pedestal of their culture and how they base their lives upon. The formation of a religion across the large number of regions of Greece, help the different locations mold themselves by the customs that were created from the adaptation. During what was known as Ancient Greece, the people would hear tales of the twelve Olympians and how their actions influence the world around them. Within this period of time for the people of Greece was that of growth, as they sought to bring new ideas into light as they exited from a dark period within their own history.