Unit two: Ancient Greek Art

Acropolis

means "part of the city on top of a hill" akro means high and polis means city -Athens originated as a Neolithic acropolis, and as the city grew- the acropolis became the religious and ceremonial center devoted primarily to the goddess Athena

Frieze

the middle element of an entablature, between the architrave and the cornice. Usually decorated with sculpture, painting, or moldings. Also: any continuous flat band with relief sculpture or painted decorations.

Corinthian orders

the most ornate of the orders, the Corinthian includes a base, a fluted column shaft with a capital elaborately decorated with a acanthus leaf carvings. Its entablature consists of an architrave decorated with moldings, a frieze often containing sculptured reliefs, and a cornice with dentils.

Cella

the principal interior room at the center of a Greek or Roman temple within which the cult statue was usually housed. Also called the naos.

tesserae

the small piece of stone, glass, or other object that is pieced together with many others to create a mosaic

Terra Cotta

A medium made from clay fired over a low heat and sometimes left unglazed. Also: the orange-brown color typical of this medium.

caryatid

A sculpture of a draped female figure acting as a column supporting an entablature

pediment

A triangular gable found over major architectural elements such a Classical Greek porticoes, windows, or doors. Formed by an entablature and the ends of a sloping roof or raking cornice. A similar architectural element is often used decoratively above a door or window, sometimes with a curved upper molding. A broken pediment is a variation on the traditional pediment, with an open space at the center of the top most angle and/or the horizontal cornice.

prana

The Hindu term for the energy that flows through the body, nourishing organs and promoting optimal functioning.

Contrapposto

an Italian term meaning "set against," used to describe the pose that results from setting parts of the body in opposition to each other around a central axis.

atrium

an unroofed interior courtyard or room in a Roman house, sometimes having a pool or garden, sometimes surrounded by columns. Also the open courtyard in from of a christian church or an area in modern architecture

mandala

diagram of the cosmos as it is envisioned in Buddhism

Ionic Order

the column of the Ionic order has a base, a fluted shaft, and a capital decorated with volutes. The Ionic entablature consists of an architrave of three panels and moldings, a frieze usually containing sculpted relief ornament, and a cornice with dentils.

foreshortening

the illusion created on a flat surface in which figures and objects appear to recede or project sharply into space. Accomplished according to the rules of perspective.

Buddha

"enlightened one" -his teachings form the basis of the Buddhist religion

bodhisattvas

"those whose essence is wisdom" -saintly beings who are on the brink of achieving buddhahood but have vowed to help others achieve buddhahood before crossing over themselves

symmetria

(commensurability) the relationship of body parts to one another

isocephalic

(of a composition) having the heads of all figures on approximately the same level.

Temple of Aphaia, Aegina

-Archaic Period -500 BCE -column height about 17 feet -Sleek Doric Temple -Part of a sanctuary dedicated to a local goddess named Aphaia -well preserved, except for the loss of pediments, roof, and sections of its colonnade -enough evidence to show a reliable model of its original appearance - The plan combines six columns on the façades with 12 on the sides, and the cella-whose roof was supported by superimposed colonnades-could be entered from porches on both short sides -slight swelling of the columns (entasis) -outside triglyphs are pushed to the ends of frieze, out of alignment with the column underneath them, to avoid the weirdness of a half metope (rectangular panel with a relief or painting) at the corner -set in relation to an outside alter -the architect revealed from the outset the full shape of a closed, compact, sculptural mass, inviting people to not enter but to walk around the exterior to view the rich sculptural decorations on pediments and frieze.

"Peplos" Kore

-Archaic Period -Acropolis, Athens -530 BCE -Marble, height 4 ft -rounded body forms, similar to Menkaure's wife except not as detailed -no interest in detailing her body -clothed unlike the kouros -but her bare arms and head convey a sense of soft flesh covering a real bone structure -her smile and hair are considerably less stylized -the originally painted colors on both body and clothing must have made her seem even more lifelike and she also once wore a metal crown and jewelry -the name for the figure is based on an assessment of her clothing as a young girl's peplos- a draped rectangle of cloth pinned at the shoulders and belted to give a bloused effect-but it has been recently argued that this kore is actually wearing a sheath-like garment, originally painted with a frieze of animals, identifying her not as a young girl, but a goddess, perhaps Athena, or Artemis -her missing left forearm may have held something that was the key to her identity

Metropolitan Kouros

-Archaic Period -Attica -600 BCE -Pink Granite, height 6 ft -in the round -early greek sculpture, still has egyptian influence -pose is very similar to that of Menkaure's -upright position, hands at sides, and one foot slightly forward -difference is that it is completely cut away from stone, so it is free standing -less realistic though than egyptian statues, muscles are reduced to symmetrical lines -very stylized -funerary statue -Moth forms a conventional closed-lip expression known as the Archaic smile

Achilles and Ajax playing a game

-Archaic Period -artist is Exekias -540 to 530 BCE -Black-figure decoration on an amphora -ceramic -2 ft -shows a rare moment of relaxation playing dice -for Greeks familiar with the story, this anecdotal portrayal of friendly play would have been poignant reminder that before the end of the war, the heroes would be parted by death, Archilles in battle, and Ajax by suicide -artists often included identifying labels beside the characters to guide viewers to the narrative source so they could delight in the painters' rich rendersing of familiar narrative situations

Dying Warrior

-Archaic Period -from the left corner of the east pediment of the temple of Aphaia, Aegina -marble, 6 ft -490 to 480 BCE -The figure is lying on his side, his arm crossed over his body, which is even portruding off the side of the pediment, as well as his leg -idealized way of dying for the greeks -no emotion shown on his face only dignity even as he lays dying -originally would have been painted -realistic perfect body, though hair and face are more stylized -naked which is the ideal greek way to show someone

Aphrodite of Knidos

-Artist Praxiteles, [Classical] (350-340 BCE) • By Praxitiles • Statue once was housed in a round temple and could only have been seen by someone though peeking around columns; voyeuristic view • Novel in its approach to the nudity for females not openly erotic; but sensual • Aphrodite steps into a bath • She is admired, but averts her gaze • She is taking a cloak off a water jar • Sensuous "S" curve to the body • Gentle, dreamy quality • Modest-hand that is missing would have covered her pelvis

Perikles

-Charismatic leader of Athens in 495 to 429 BCE. Athens held a democratic government -dominated Athenian politics and culture from 462 BCE until his death 429 BCE -haughty personality, but a dynamic, charismatic political and military leader -supported the arts, and encouraged Athenian wealth for the adornment of the city -wanted the artists to promote a public image of peace, prosperity, and power -said "Future generations will marvel at us, as the present age marvels at us now." -After Persian troops destroyed the Acropolis in 480 BCE, the Athenians vowed to keep it in ruins as a memorial, but Perikles convinced them to rebuild it, arguing that this project honored the gods, especially Athena, who had helped the Greeks defeat the Persians -intended to create a visual expressing of Athenian values and civic pride that would bolster the city's status as the capital of the empire -cost a lot, and there was a ton of labour -was criticized but never lost popular support. -Many working-class Athenians benefited from it. -continued even after he died

Riace Warrior

-Early classical period -found in the sea off Riace, Italy so Riace Warrior -460 to 450 BCE -Bronze hallow casting (greeks were famous for it, and greatly demanded for it by the Ancient Romans which is why the sculpture could have been found off of Italy, perhaps a shipwreck) -glass eyes, silver teeth, and copper lips and nipples -height 6 ft and 9 inches -found by divers in 1972 -striking balance between the idealized smoothness of "perfected" anatomy conforming to Early Classical Standards and the reproduction of details observed from nature, such as the swelling veins in the backs of the hands -contrapposto is evident -the toned musculature suggests a youthfulness inconsistent with the maturity of the heavy beard and almost haggard face -the inserted eyeballs of bone and colored glass, copper inlays on lips and nipples, silver plating teeth that show between parted lips, and attached eyelashes and eyebrows of separately cast strands of bronze give it even more lifelike quality -pose is different to, relaxed movement, one foot is stepped slightly forward to balance the man, and his head is turned only slightly to the side which hasn't been seen before -High classical period -hair is less stylized, curls are irregular

The Parthenon

-High Classical Period -447 to 432 BCE -Pantelic Marble -Perikles commissioned the Architects Kallikrates and Iktinos to design a large temple -required extraordinary mathematical and mechanical skills and would have been impossible without a large amount of distinguished architects and builders, and talented sculptors and painters. -it is a testament to the administrative skills as to the artistic vision of Pheidias, Perikle's friend, who supervised the project -much attention was paid to the proportions of the temple -had a ration mostly of 4:9, expressing the relationship of breadth to length and also the relationship of column diameter to space between columns. -long straight horizontal lines sag when seen from a distance so the base and entablature curve slightly upward to prevent this -columns have entasis (subtle swelling) and tilt inward slightly from bottom to top -corners are strengthened visually by reducing the space between columns at these points -all of this helps the parthenon to look more alive and not just a sagging block of stone -the decoration of the Parthenon reflects Pheidias' unifying aesthetic vision -conveys a number of political and idealogical themes: democratic Greek over imperial Persia, the greatness of Athens thanks to Athena, and the triumph of an enlightened Greek civilization over despotism and barbarism

Erechtheion

-High Classical Period -Acropolis, Athens, 421 to 406 BCE. -artist unknown -second important temple -was finished just before the fall of Athens to Sparta -the asymmetrical plan on several levels reflects the building's multiple functions in housing many different shrines, and it is also conformed to the sharply sloping terrain on which it is located -stands on the site of the mythical contest between the sea god Poseidon and Athena for control over the Athens. -is thought to hold the rock that bears the mark of Poseidon's trident -north and east porches have come to epitomize the Ionic order, serving as an important model for European architects since the eighteenth century

Doryphoros

-High Classical Period -Spear bearer -artist: Polykletios -Polykletios is know for his statue the "Canon" he wrote a book on how a human figure should be proportioned in sculpture, and than made the sculpture the canon to set an example of the proportions. -the sculpture was lost, but we still have Roman marble copies of the originally bronze piece

Marshals and Young Women

-High Classical Period -detail of the Procession, from the Ionic Frieze on the east side of the Parthenon. C 447:432 BCE, Marble, height 3 ft 6 inches inches -on a continuous, 525-foot-long Ionic frieze the subject is a procession celebrating the festival that took place in Athens every four years, when women of the city wove a new wool peplos and carried it into the Acropolis to clothe an ancient wooden cult statue of Athena -Pheidias' portrayal shows graceful but physically sturdy young walkers -message is that Athenians are a healthy, vigorous people, united in a democratic civic body looked upon with favor by the gods. -the people are inseparable from and symbolic of the city itself -representative types, ideal inhabitants of a successful city-state

Horsemen

-High Classical Period -detail of the Procession, from the Ionic Frieze on the north side of the Parthenon. C 447:432 BCE, Marble, height 41 3/4 inches -on a continuous, 525-foot-long Ionic frieze the subject is a procession celebrating the festival that took place in Athens every four years, when women of the city wove a new wool peplos and carried it into the Acropolis to clothe an ancient wooden cult statue of Athena -Pheidias' portrayal shows skilled riders managing powerful steeds -representative types, ideal inhabitants of a successful city-state

Grave Stele of Ktesilaos and Theano

-High Classical Period -marble, height 36 5/8 inches, 400 BCE -commemorates the relationship between a couple -grave stone probably for a joint grave since both names are on it. -the husband stands casually with crossed legs and joined hands looking at his wife -the wife sits on a bench pulling at her gauzy wrap with her right hand in a gesture that is often associated with Greek brides. -the air of introspective melancholy here, as well as the softness and delicacy of both flesh and fabric, seem to point forward out of the HIgh Classical period and into the increased sense of narrative and delicacy that was to characterize the fourth century BCE

Married Couple Embracing

-Larth Tetnies and Thanchvil Tarnai -lid of a sarcophagus -350 to 200 BCE -marble, length 7 ft -Etruscan -shows a private moment, the couple is busy gazing into each others eyes instead of trying to engage the viewer -dressed only in their jewelry and just partially sheathed by the light coverings that clings to the forms of their bodies -eternal loving embrace -influenced by Greek Classicism in the rendering of human forms, but the human intimacy that is captured her is far removed from the cool, idealized detachment characterizing Greek funerary stelae

Ashokan Pillar

-Maurya Period 246 BCE -commissioned by Ashoka -Buddhist -pillars are few in number and quite concentrated in location, only eight were built during Ashoka's time -most were placed at the site of Buddhist monasteries along a route leading from Punjab in the northwest to Ashoka's capital, Pataliputra, in the North east -One pillar found suggests that there are other pillars that have not yet been found that were placed on a more southern route -first sculptural remains in India after a hiatus of some 1,600 years -inscriptions are the first preserved Indian writing that we can read and interpret -the inscriptions were written in Prakrit, a language closely related to Sanskrit -set down laws of righteous behavior -raise intriguing questions like how could such pillars be made in the absence of any known precedent?

Female figure holding a fly whisk

-Maurya Period, 250 BCE -polished sandstone -height 5ft -one of the most famous works of Indian art -the figure's jewelry is prominent- mimicks the curves of her body -known as a Yakshi -the figure embodies the association of female beauty with procreative abundance, bounty, and auspiciousness qualities that in turn reflect the generosity of the gos and the workings of dharma in the world -conveys the yakshi's authority through the frontal rigor of her pose, the massive volumes of her form, and the stron linear patterning of her ornaments and dress -her soft, youthful face, the precise defintion of prominent features such as the stomach muscles and the polished sheen of her exposed flesh counterbalances that

Tikal Temple 1

-Maya Culture, in the city Tikal -tomb of Ruler A -late preclassic period -734 CE -base nine layers- underworld nine layers -140 ft high -pyramid -decorated with stele of Ruler A -top is decorated with painted statues

Colossal Heads

-Olmec -Mexico -1200 to 900 BCE -Basalt -multiple heads -all different faces so might represent different people -ranged in height from 5 to 12 ft -5 to more than 20 tons -adult males wearing helmets with chinstraps and large round earspools -fleshy faces with almond-shaped eyes, flat broad noses, thick protruding lips, and downturned mouths -defaced, and burried

Vitruvius

-Roman architect -his writings are a source of our knowledge of the appearance of Etruscan temples -compiled descriptions between 33 and 32 BCE -says that Etruscan temples resemble greek temples -temples show earlier Doric or Ionic order, and the entablature resembles a Doric frieze -used the term "Tuscan Order" to describe the characteristic Etruscan variation of the Doric order, with an unfluted shaft and simplified base, capital, and entablature

Lady xox's vision

-accession ceremony -Lady Xox's is the Queen of Pakal the Great -This Maya carving of ruler Lady Xoc depicts her experience of a supernatural vision after performing a sacrifice of her own blood. Like many ancient American rulers, Maya elite like Lady Xoc, acted not only as political rulers of their community, but also the spiritual ones.

Portrait of Pakal the Great

-from Pakal's tomb in Palenque, temple of inscriptions -Mexico. Maya Culture -heith 16 7/8 inches -stucco portrait found in his sarchopogus -young man wearing a diadem of jade and flowers -was colorfully painted -ideal representation of people -sloping forehead, elongated skull, full lips, and open mouth

the great stupa

-in india -founded 3rd century BCE -150-50 BCE -most famous stupa -was part of a large monastery complez crowning a hill -a represtentative of the early central Indian type -its sold hemispherical dome was built up from rubble and dirt, faced with dressed stone then covered with a shining white plaster made from lime and powdered seashells -the dome echoes the arc of the sky -around the perimeter is a walkway enclosed by a railing -an elevated walkway is approached by a staircase on the south side -railing provides a physical and symbolic boundary between an inner sacred area and the outerprofane world -on top of the dome another stone railing square in shape defines the abode of the gods atop the cosmic mountain -encloses the top of a mast bearing three stone disks disks may represent the "three jewels of Buddhism"- the Buddha the law and the Monastic order or the Buddhist concept of the three realms of existence: desire, form, and formlessness -four stone gateways or toranas punctuate the railing -aligned with the four cardinal directions, the gateway symbolizes the Buddhist cosmos -the only elements of the great Stupa to be ornamented with sculpture are the gateways -their square posts are carved with symbols and scenes drawn mostly from the Buddhas life and past lives -the scenes are organized into places not time

reliquaries

-object containing relic

Lion Capital

-originally crowned the pillar erected at Sarnath in north central India, the site of the Buddha's first session -Maurya Period 250 BCE -polished sandstone -height 7 ft -the lowest portion represents the down turned petals of a lotus blossom -because the lotus flower emerges from murky waters without any mud sticking to its petals it symbolizes the presence of divine purity in the imperfect world -the animals may symbolize the four great rivers in the world which are mentioned in Indian creation myths -the four lions are facing the four cardinal directions and may be symbolizing the universal nature of Buddhism and the universal currency of Ahoka's law inscribed on the pillar their roar might be compared with the speech of the Buddha that spreads fare and wide thei lions may also refer to the Buddha himself who is known as "the lion of the Shakya clan" the clan into which the Buddha was born as a prince the lions originally supported a great wheel the wheel refers to Buddhist teaching for with his sermon at Sarnath the Buddha "set the wheel of the law in motion" the wheel is also a symbol of the ideal universal monarch and so refers to Ashoka as well -veins and tendons stand out on the legs: the claws are large and powerful, the mane is richly textured and the jaws have a loose and fluttering edge- realistic elements

entablature

In the Classical orders, the horizontal elements above the columns and capitals. The entablature consists of, from bottom to top, an architrave, a frieze, and a cornice.

Doric Order

The column shaft of the Doric order can be fluted or smooth-surfaced and has no base. The Doric capital consists consists of an undecorated echinus and abacus. The Doric entablature has a plain architrave, a frieze with metopes and triglyphs, and a simple cornice.

yakshi

a spirit associated with the productive forces of nature

sarcophagus

a stone coffin. Often rectangular and decorated with relief sculpture