Greek architecture followed strict rules called orders that determined proportions and detailing. They built temples out of marble with columns and decorated reliefs. Theaters had a semicircular design with seating built into hillslopes. Greek sculpture evolved over time from rigid early works to later pieces depicting emotions realistically, often representing gods. They established ideals of human beauty and proportion and worked in marble and bronze that was originally painted.

1. Greek Art
2nd
ESO
Maira Gil Camarón

2. Greek Architecture
 The Greeks created buildings on a more human scale than the Egyptians and
Mesopotamians, based on harmony and proportion
 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

3. The three orders
The 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

4. Theatre
Its semicircular shape had three parts: cavea, orchestra and
stage
The cavea was where the spectators sat. It was built into a
hillside to maximise acoustics and visibility
The orchestra was circular and held the choir
The performances were held on the stage

5. Temples
 Built with large blocks of marble and usually rectangular in
shape, although they could also be circular
 Built on a platform with steps and surrounded by a group of
columns called a peristyle (=surrounded by columns)
 Inside was the cella, which held the statue of the deity
 The pediment and frieze on the exterior were decorated with
reliefs
 The reliefs and sculptures were adapted to the available space
and were painted with bright colours

6. Parthenon (Athens)

8. Erecteion (Athens)

9. Temple of Athena (Delphi)

10. Greek Sculpture
Greek 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

11. Greek sculpture evolved over a long period of time:
 In the Archaic period, young nudes (kouroi) and maidens in dresses
(korai) were depicted. The body was rigid and forward-facing. Faces
were stylised, showing a half smile
 In the Classical period (5º and 4º centuries BC) , the human body was
depicted with proportion and harmony. Faces had a serene expression
 In the Hellenistic period, drama and realism were represented by
human emotions (pain, strength...). Sculptors perfected clothing and
facial expressions

12. 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

13. 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

14. Diskobolus, by Miron, 5th
century
Aphrodite, by Cnidus,
4th
century

15. HELLENISTIC
PERIOD
Laocoon and his
sons, 1st
centry BC
They Dying
Gaul, 3rd
century
BC
Aphrodite of
Milos, 2nd
century
BC

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