cclassical art

1. "Our love of what is beautiful does
not lead to extravagance; our love
of the things of the mind does not
make us soft.” - Pericles

2. Contributions of Golden Age
Art, Architecture, History,
Literature, Theater

3. Classical Art
• Athenians saw the world
with new eyes
• Art work seems as if it is
their first time seeing the
world
• Valued freshness,
idealism, freedom,
harmony, and proportion
• Humans, the subject of
their art

4. The Grecian Urn
• Few paintings remain
• The few that do are on urns
• Urn: large vase, usually having a pedestal or feet

5. Architecture
• Simple and beautiful
• Best known for its columns
• Three orders: Doric, Ionic, Corinthian
• Used to support roof

6. Doric Order
• Oldest and plainest
• Originated 600 B.C.
• Fluted columns
• No base
• Unadorned capitals
– Tops, where it meets
the roof line

8. Doric Order

9. Ionic Order
• 600 B.C.
• Taller, more slender
• More elaborate
carvings
• Molded bases
• Spiral capitals

11. Ionic Order

12. My Favorite Columns

13. Corinthian Order
• 450 B.C.
• Even taller
, more
slender
• More elaborate
capitals
– Volutes
– Rosettes
– Acanthus leaves

15. Corinthian Order

16. The Parthenon
• Captures Greeks
independence and pride
• Construction ordered by
Pericles
• Built atop the acropolis
• To be goddess Athena’s
earthly home
• Massive 23,000 sq. feet

21. Sculpture
• A tremendously
important medium for
the Greeks
• Representations of gods,
heroes, athletes
• Fresh, simple, beautiful
• Natural positioning
• Expression of serenity
• Body in motion
• Balance and proportion
Myron’s Discus Thrower - Marble

22. Hermes Aphrodite
Venus

23. Aphrodite
D oryphoros

25. History
• Very different than
the D orian Age
• Herodotus
– 484 - 425 B.C.
– “Father of History”
– Accurate reporting of
events
– Wrote the first text of
history
• The Histories

26. History
• Thucydides
– Greatest historian of
Classical period
– Wrote about
Peloponnesian War
– History repeats itself
– Ideas that apply today

27. Theater
• Drama invented in
Greece
– Express civic pride
– Pay tribute to gods
• Built the first theaters
– Outdoors
– Amphitheaters
• Male actors
• Used costumes,
masks, sets

28. Tragedies
• Serious drama
• Subjects of love,
hate, war, betrayal
• Examined justice,
civic issues, the self
• Central figure was a
tragic hero
– Extraordinary person
– Gifted, talented
– Tragic flaw
• Hubris
• Notable dramatists:
– Aeschylus
• Osteria (trilogy)
– Sophocles
• O edipus the King, Antigone
– Euripides
• M edea

29. Comedies
• Notable playwright:
– Aristophanes
• The Birds
• Lysistrata
– Wives deny their
husbands in hopes of
ending the
Peloponnesian War
• Slapstick comedy,
crude humor
• Made fun of politics,
important people,
ideas of the time
• Helped Athenians
laugh at themselves,
their actions openly

30. Dionysian Festival
• In honor of Dionysius -
god on wine and fertility
• Members of the
Dionysiac cult told the
myth of their god singing
and dancing as a chorus.
• One day, Thespis, a cult
priest, acted out the
myth
• New way of performing
gained popularity
• Pisistratus, an Athenian,
constructed a theater for
performances in Dionysus'
honor.
• Performances gained new
importance and meaning
• 534 BC the first festival of
Dionysus was instituted.
• A chance to celebrate
Dionysus and participate
in competition.

32. For next class…
• Dionysian Theater Festival Presentation
• Be working on:
– Philosophy readings
– Terms