This document summarizes the major periods of ancient Greek art and architecture from 900 BCE to 30 BCE. It provides an overview of the defining characteristics and ideals of each period, including Geometric, Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic. Key examples are presented to illustrate the stylistic evolution over time, from geometric vase paintings to classical sculptures featuring contrapposto to later Hellenistic works capturing emotion and drama. The document establishes the foundational influence of Greek art on the development of Western civilization.

1. Greek ideals
Order
Harmony
Proportion
Reason
Freedom

3. Periods, BCE
• GEOMETRIC 900-600
• ARCHAIC 600-480
• CLASSICAL 480-323
• EARLY/HIGH CLASSICAL 480-400
• LATE CLASSICAL 400-323
• HELLENISTIC 323-30

4. ENTASIS- a
slight convex
curve in the
shaft of a
column
ORDERS OF CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE

6. DIPYLON
GEOMETRIC KRATER
740 BCE
GRAVE MARKER
ABOUT 4 FT
• MEANDERING LINES
• ABSRACTION

7. CORINTHIAN BLACK
FIGURE AMPHORA
600 BCE
ORIENTALIZING
MESOPOTAMIA/EGYPT
FRIEZES WITH ANIMALS

10. ARCHAIC STATUES
LADY OF AUXERRE
650 BCE
KOUROS
600 BCE

11. Anavysos
Kouros
530 BCE
MARBLE WITH PAINT
GRAVE MARKER
REPLACES VASES
ARCHAIC SMILE

12. PEPLOS KORE
530 BCE

13. KORE

15. Porch of the Maidens (caryatids) on the Erecthion
Ionic

17. Caryatid
From the Louvre-
Greco-Roman rooms
Male version is an:
ATLANTID

28. • parapet

30. GRAVE STELE OF HEGESO
410 BCE
ATTR: KALLIMACHOS
HIGH
CLASSICAL

31. KRITIOS BOY
480 BCE
Early classical

32. DORYPHOROS
SPEAR BEARER
450 BCE
THE CANON BY POLYKLEITOS:
HEAD SHOULD BE 1/7 OF BODY
INFLUENCED BY PYTHAGORAS
HARMONY COMES FROM PROPORTION AND RATIOS, EVEN
IN MUSIC
BLOCK LIKE, SOLID
RESTRAINED MOVEMENT
THIS IS A ROMAN COPY FOUND IN POMPEII
ORIGINAL SAID TO BE MADE BY POLYKLEITOS
CONTRAPPOSTO

33. Zeus or Poseidon
460 BCE
6” 10”
bronze

34. Diskobolos
discus thrower
By: Myron
450 BCE

35. By: Praxiteles
First fully nude female
350 BCE
Aphrodite of
Knidos- Venus
Initially nudity was so
shocking, people
rejected it
Pliny the Elder

36. Lysippos
the scraper
330 BCE
Late classical
New canon- head is ?
1/8 instead of 1/7
Broke down frontal
view

38. CONTRAPPOSTO
and “S” curve

39. APHRODITE
VENUS DE MILO
130 BCE
Originally thought
to be by Praxiteles,
now by Alexander of
Antioch.
Found on the island
of Milos
Firs time woman is
object of sexual
desire, teasing the
spectator

40. NIKE OF SAMOTHRACE
OR
NIKE ALIGHTING ON A WARSHIP
190 BCE
HELLENISTIC
Wet drapery

41. HELLENISTIC 323-31 BCE
period of DECADENCE compared to classical Greece
Begins with Alexander the Great’s invasion of
Achaemenid Empire (Persian) and then a new wave of
Greek colonization (even into Asia and Africa)
Ends with death of Alexander, and Cleopatra and Marc
Anthony in 31 BCE Battle of Actium:
Octavian wins…becomes Augustus. And we are fully
into ROMAN EMPIRE

42. THIS SETS UP THE ENTIRE FUTURE OF
WESTERN ART,
philosophically and stylistically
Reason, rationality, order, calm, stability
VS
Emotion, drama, tragedy, freedom

43. SEATED BOXER
HELLENISTIC
100 BCE

44. Sleeping satyr
Semi-human follower of Dionysus
200 BCE

46. Laocoon and sons
30? BCE
Trojan Priest
Punished by Gods
Laocoon
Hellenistic