1. Greek Sculpture
A chronology of style and change in Ancient Greek
sculpture through the Archaic Age, Classical Period, and
Hellenistic Period
2. Sculpture Throughout the Ages:
Introduction
Archaic Classical Hellenistic
If there’s one key to identifying the style, beliefs, and
philosophy of each period, it’s sculpture. Sculpture
provides a window into Ancient Greek life, and sums up
the overall tone of its history.
3. The Archaic Age (850 – 480 BCE)
The Archaic Age brought the first emergence of Greek artistic
identity. However, their earliest style was more of a combination of
Egyptian and Mesopotamian cultures.
~Egyptian~> ~~~~~~~~Greek~~~~~~~~ <~~~~~Mesopotamian~~~~~~
However, unlike Egyptian sculpture, Greek sculpture was free standing, while Egyptian
sculpture was supported by a stone background. Greek eyes featured a direct stare, while
Egyptian eyes had a faraway glaze. Still, as one can see, they had very similar characteristics,
one of which being their shared stance: one foot in front of the other and very four sided.
4. Influence of Egyptian Ideas
As Greece emerged from
the Dark Ages, trade
flourished with various
cultures around the
Mediterranean, particularly the
Egyptians. As a result much of
Greek sculpture is influenced
by Egyptian style and themes.
The Sphinx to the left is just
one example of a theme in
Egyptian mythology
transferred into Greece.
The Mycenaean culture
also had a large impact on
Archaic sculpture which
results in a eastern, more
oriental style.
7. The Kouros and the Kore
Two main subjects were sculpted in the Archaic age: the Kouros (male, meaning
youth) and the Koure (female, meaning maiden). Both were very rigid, and featured
wig-like hair in a stylized pattern. Also, both were massive, measuring from 3-4m tall.
They were almost always painted, adding an element of realism to the sculptures.
Statues of the Archaic age were made of bronze or sandstone.
Kouros Kore
The Kouros stood The Kore was always
always nude, some clothed. Women were
times shown with more realistically
a beard to signify depicted, as seen by
maturity. It the folds and creases
featured well- in the dress. They had
defined muscles, a solid form and wore
depicting the a skirt, with only their
Greek focus on toes showing through
perfect ion and the at the bottom.
ideal body
8. Characteristics
The Kouros and Kore featured
an emphasis on decorative
architectural sculpture.
They were mainly found in
temples, found on pediments
and facades, but were also
used to mark tombs.
In temples, they started out
being carved deeply into
stone walls to make them
stand out from the
background.
9. Changes in Form – The Age of Transition
As the Archaic Age progressed,
slight changes developed in
sculpture. The most noticeable
change was the emergence of the
Archaic Smile, best seen in he
Rampin Head. Also, towards the
end of the period the Kouros was
depicted wearing a cloak, allowing
the body to be seen yet straying
away from a nude form. Even
further into the period, statues
became Greek bodies with Kouros
shoulders, arms and legs. As time
progressed, and sculpture started
to feature different poses, statue
themes developed into Gods and
Mortals in Battle. The Rampin Head, featuring the
Archaic Smile
10.
11.
12. The Classical Period (480 – 323 BCE)
In the Classical Period, new
subjects were used for
sculpture. Young athletes and
nude females took the place of
the Archaic Kouros and Kore.
They were sculpted for gifts to
the Gods, and for celebrations
of Greek success. Classical
sculpture was more realistic,
featuring detailed muscles,
and a new form of sculpting:
modeling. Action was
introduced into sculpture,
creating a shift in weight and
balance. As the Classical
Period progressed, a transition
from using bronze to marble
was made.
13. Development of Classical Pathos
A major characteristic of the
Classical Period was the development
of a quality of “Pathos”, meaning
suffering. This pathos is best seen in
the “Dying Niobid” from myth.
The story goes that Niobid
bragged about her seven sons and
seven daughters, insulting Apollo’s
and Artemis’ mother. The gods
punished Niobid by killing all of her
children. The statue shows one of her
daughters kneeling to the ground
after being shot in the back by an
arrow.
The pathos is best seen in her
facial expression and her posture.
This statue is also particularly
interesting, as it is one of the earliest
examples of a large sculpture in
which a woman is nude.
.
14. Myron’s “Disk Thrower”
One of the best and most
detailed examples of
Classical sculpture is in
Myron’s “Discobolos” (Disk
Thrower). The sculpture
features a young athlete
frozen in time, twisting in a
balanced movement. Its
realism of anatomy and
thrust of weight in a split
second reflects the epitome
of Classical art.
15. Pheidias
Another great sculptor of the Classical
Period was Pheidias. In the Classical Period,
famous sculptors were made celebrities, and
Pheidias was the greatest of them all. He was
made chief architect by Pericles, who rebuilt
Athens in its Golden Age. He was the
architect, sculptor, painter, and designer of
new buildings atop Athens’ acropolis.
Pheidias’ best claims to fame are a
colossal statue of Athena located inside the
Parthenon and a 523ft long frieze behind the
Parthenon's columns. The purpose of the frieze
is unknown. Some think it was a religious
procession honoring Athena, while others
think it may be depicting a Mycenean king of
Athens sacrificing his daughters for the city.
Nonetheless, the frieze still stands as one of
the greatest, due to its rhythmic movements
and absence of repeated stiff forms, so
commonly seen throughout history.
A modern recreation based on ancient
accounts. This statue is in the “Parthanon
overlooking Nashville, Tenn.
16. Pheidias
Another attempt to
recreate the statue of
Athena, originally
located inside
Parthenon
It originally stood 12m
tall and was made out of
ivory and gold.
20. Praxiteles
Praxiteles- Who also worked on
the Mausoleum of
Halicarnassus is known for his
statues of gods who epitomize
the ideal of Greek perfection.
24. Lysippus
Another famous
sculptor of the Classical
Period was Lysippus. He
changed the syle of
sculpture by making new
body proportions.His statues
were slender and lithe, with
smaller heads and
expressive postures.
His most famous
sculpture, “The Scraper”
features a young athlete
scrapping olive oil from his
arm after bathing in it, keying
us in to what Greek life was
like.
29. The Hellinsitic Age (323 – 44 BCE)
As Alexander the Great spread Greek culture eastward, it
was also highly influenced by local culture. However, sculpture
was an exception. Greek sculpture continued to be Greek and
influenced other cultures.
A Mural depicting Alexander the Great’s confrontation with the Persian King Darius at Issus
30. Pride Vs. Pathos
Throughout the Hellenistic Age, a different character of sculpture
developed. It had a more victorious feel, reflecting Greek pride at the time.
However, it still had an emphasis on pathos and a variety of poses. This
contradiction can be seen in this sculpture of a Greek boxer. He has an
aura of pride in his pose, yet his face reveals an inner pathos.
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31. A Sense of
Victory
Throughout the Hellenistic Age, a
greater sense of victory and detail developed.
Sculpture became more beautifully created,
with a more realistic and victorious tone. This
sense of victory spawned from the Greek’s
pride in the accomplishments of Alexander the
Great in his quest to conquer the Persians and
beyond. This feeling is best represented in one
the Hellenistic Age’s most well known pieces,
“The Dying Trumpeter”.
The sculpture depicts a dying Celtic
trumpeter, after his defeat by Alexander. Great
detail and expression are found in facial
characteristics as well as his body’s pose. The
newfound sense of detail is best shown in the
rope found around his neck, a Celtic symbol.
This sculpture also provides another example
of the contrast between the pride of the
Greek’s victories and the pathos of the
sculptures.
32. Change in Subject
One of the most noticeable
changes in the Hellenistic Age
comes with the change in subject.
No longer were sculptures made
of beautiful athletes, or Gods.
Now, they were made of a
variety of people, from
sovereigns to market loungers.
The point of the sculptures was
not to be beautiful, but realistic
and dynamic.
This sculpture of an old
woman is obviously not the most
beautiful, but it is realistic. It
once again shows great detail,
found in the face and pose.
33. A Change in Structure
Another change in
sculpture that can be found in
the Hellenistic age is its
structure. Sculpture acquired a
heavier quality, requiring more
weight and balance. A prime
example of this is found in the
Pergamum Altar.
The Altar features an
intertwining of dramatic,
muscular bodies with extreme
poses and swirling garments. It
is the epitome of dynamic
movement.
35. A Hellenistic
Masterpeice
One of the greatest
masterpiece of the
Hellenistic Age is “The
Victory of Samothrace”.
The displays a dynamic
feeling of movement. The
wind whips around its
wings, ruffling its feathers
and sweeping through her
garments. The sculpture is
truly renowned for its
forceful animated action
and advancement.
36. The Laocoon Group
This sculpture is known for
its outstanding technical skills as well as
“artistic bravado”. It ultimately captures
raw emotion; a characteristic of the era.
Although this marble sculpture is believed
to be a cast of a bronze original, it
maintains its dramatical aspects. The
Laocoon has three main figures, this
bearded man in the center, and his two
sons, connected by a snake. Supposedly,
the myth of Laocoon is about a Trojan
Priest who alarmed the people of Troy to
not accept the wooden horse outside their
gates. He gave a speech and at its
conclusion, threw his spear into the horse.
But, he was punished afterwards and this
sculpture captures his pain and agony
during his punishment.
37. Aphrodite of Melos 150 BC
Musee du Louvre, Paris
This sculpture is also referred
to as “Venus de Milo” and depicts
the goddess of love and beauty.
The form of this sculpture has
characteristics of Classical
sculpture, although it was made in
the Hellenistic Period. But, there are
details that purely resemble this era.
One is the drapery around Aphrodite's
hips and legs. This cloth has carefully
carved folds to resemble the
“swirling” garments worn by another
famous Hellenistic statue Nike of
Samothrace.
