"Ancient Greek art stands out among that of other ancient cultures for its development of naturalistic but idealized depictions of the human body..."
Study of the artistic and architectural contributions of Ancient Greece, including the characteristic styles and forms of Greek art.
Mythology: Ancient Greek mythology explores the tales and legends of their gods and goddesses.
Philosophy: Ancient Greek philosophy includes the works of influential thinkers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.
Politics: The political structures of Ancient Greece include the city-state, oligarchy, democracy, and tyranny.
Art: Ancient Greek art includes sculpture, pottery, and architecture, with notable examples such as the Parthenon and the Temple of Zeus.
Science: Ancient Greek scientists contributed to various fields, including mathematics, astronomy, and medicine.
Literature: Ancient Greek literature includes epic poems such as the Iliad and the Odyssey, as well as the works of playwrights like Sophocles and Euripides.
Olympics: The Ancient Greek Olympics were a significant sporting event that involved various athletic competitions and showcased the physical prowess of athletes.
Geography: The geography of Ancient Greece includes notable regions such as Athens, Sparta, and the Peloponnese.
Religion: Ancient Greek religion was polytheistic, and temples were built to honor gods and goddesses such as Zeus, Athena, Apollo, and Artemis.
Warfare: Ancient Greek warfare involved battles on land and sea, with strategies that included phalanx formations and the use of triremes.
Social classes: Ancient Greek society was divided into various social classes, including citizens, metics (foreigners), and slaves.
Economy: The Ancient Greek economy included trade, agriculture, and craftsmanship, with Athens serving as a significant commercial hub.
Language: Ancient Greek language was the basis of many modern languages in the Western world, and its alphabet and grammar are still studied today.
Daily life: Ancient Greek daily life involved activities such as working, socializing, and participating in cultural events.
Architecture: Ancient Greek architecture featured unique elements such as columns, pediments, and friezes and influenced architectural styles in later civilizations.
Geometric: The earliest type of Greek art, characterized by intricate geometric patterns and shapes on pottery.
Archaic: A transitional period between the Geometric and Classical periods, characterized by more lifelike depictions of human figures and the use of the kouros and kore sculptures.
Classical: Considered the pinnacle of Greek art, characterized by idealized human forms, balance and harmony in composition, and a focus on symmetry and proportion. Famous examples include the Parthenon and the sculptures of Phidias.
Hellenistic: A period of Greek art after the conquests of Alexander the Great, characterized by greater emotion and drama, more naturalistic poses and expressions, and a wider range of subject matter.
Corinthian: A variation of the Classical order of architecture, characterized by ornate acanthus leaf decorations on the capitals of columns.
Ionic: C - another variation of the Classical order of architecture, characterized by more slender and ornate columns topped with volutes (scroll-like decorations).
Doric: The simplest and most austere of the Classical orders of architecture, characterized by plain columns and a frieze of triglyphs and metopes.
Black-figure: A technique used by Greek vase painters to create black figures on a red-orange background.
Red-figure: A technique used by Greek vase painters to create red figures on a black background.
Kouros: A type of Greek sculpture depicting a standing male youth with a strong physique and a blank, idealized expression.
Kore: A type of Greek sculpture depicting a standing female youth, often with a pleated gown and a more naturalistic expression than the kouros.
Laconian: A type of Greek pottery from the region of Laconia, characterized by simple geometric patterns and scenes of everyday life.
"...in which largely nude male figures were generally the focus of innovation."
"The rate of stylistic development between about 750 and 300 BC was remarkable by ancient standards, and in surviving works is best seen in sculpture."
"The social context of Greek art included radical political developments and a great increase in prosperity..."
"The art of ancient Greece is usually divided stylistically into four periods: the Geometric, Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic."
"The 7th century BC witnessed the slow development of the Archaic style as exemplified by the black-figure style of vase painting."
"Around 500 BC, shortly before the onset of the Persian Wars (480 BC to 448 BC), is usually taken as the dividing line between the Archaic and the Classical periods."
"The reign of Alexander the Great (336 BC to 323 BC) is taken as separating the Classical from the Hellenistic periods."
"In reality, there was no sharp transition from one period to another. Forms of art developed at different speeds in different parts of the Greek world..."
"The survival rate of Greek art differs starkly between media. We have huge quantities of pottery and coins, much stone sculpture... Almost entirely missing are painting, fine metal vessels, and anything in perishable materials including wood."
"It used a vocabulary of ornament that was shared with pottery, metalwork and other media, and had an enormous influence on Eurasian art, especially after Buddhism carried it beyond the expanded Greek world created by Alexander the Great."
"The earliest art by Greeks is generally excluded from 'ancient Greek art,' and instead known as Greek Neolithic art followed by Aegean art."
"The latter includes Cycladic art and the art of the Minoan and Mycenaean cultures from the Greek Bronze Age."
"...there was no sharp transition from one period to another. Forms of art developed at different speeds in different parts of the Greek world, and as in any age some artists worked in more innovative styles than others."
"We have huge quantities of pottery and coins, much stone sculpture...Almost entirely missing are painting, fine metal vessels, and anything in perishable materials including wood."
"Greek architecture, technically very simple, established a harmonious style with numerous detailed conventions that were largely adopted by Roman architecture and are still followed in some modern buildings."
"It used a vocabulary of ornament that was shared with pottery, metalwork and other media..."
"The social context of Greek art included radical political developments and a great increase in prosperity..."
"...especially after Buddhism carried it beyond the expanded Greek world created by Alexander the Great."
"The equally impressive Greek achievements in philosophy, literature, and other fields are well known."