Ancient Greece: Myth vs Logic

Ancient Greece - A Struggle Between Myth and Logic

• Timeline: Neolithic (6000-2900 BC) to the Greco-Roman period (146-30 BC). Key periods include: Neolithic, Early Bronze, Minoan, Mycenaean, Dark Ages, Geometric, Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, and Late Hellenistic/Greco-Roman. Specific dates are provided for each period.

Background

• Ancient Greece: Chronology from the Neolithic period to approximately 500 BC.
• Periods: Geometric, Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic periods are documented and preserved.
• Archaic Period (800-508 BC): Greek civilization began, rise of city-states (e.g., Athens, Sparta), Olympic Games, and exploration of philosophy and theatre.
• Classical Period: Athenian democracy, philosophers (Socrates, Plato), and the Peloponnesian War (Sparta vs. Athens).
• Hellenistic Period (end of Alexander the Great to 31 BC): Decline of Greek power, conquered by Rome.

Characteristics of Art in the Periods

• Geometric Period: Pottery decoration includes geometric shapes; art depicted humans and animals. Simple, geometric forms.
• Archaic Period: Realistic depictions of humans; monumental stone sculptures (kouros and kore).
• Classical Period: Idealized beauty, harmony, proportion; human figures, everyday life; interest in representing facial features and body language.
• Hellenistic Period: Melodramatic subject matter; emotional portrayal, interest in individual emotions. Emphasis shifts from religious to aesthetic.

Greek Life and Beliefs

• Greek Gods: Anthropomorphic, represent natural forces; twelve main gods with specific domains and personalities; relationship with humans based on exchange.
• Religion: Practices originated in the Bronze Age; ceremonies at sanctuaries (temples); animal sacrifices and offerings.
• Afterlife: Believed in an Underworld ruled by Hades, Persephone, and Poseidon; immortality depended on remembrance by the living.

Examples of Greek Artworks (Geometric Period, Dipylon Vase)

• Functional Objects: Vases used for storage, carrying, mixing, drinking, serving, and cosmetics, etc.
• Decorative Elements: Terracotta (fired clay) vases, with various shapes, sizes, and intricate decorations.
• Correlations with Intended Function: Vase shapes often corresponded to their intended use.
• Figurative Representations: Geometric patterns, scenes of daily life (processions, war), and funeral scenes.

The Archaic Period, Kouros of Tenea

• Early Sculpture: Freestanding statues of nude young men (kouros) and clothed women (kore).
• Idealistic Representations: Portrayed ideal human form, youthfulness, and vigour, reflecting societal values.
• Influence of Egyptian Style: Strong similarities regarding the rigid pose and anatomical representations (symmetry, body proportions).
• Naturalistic Approach: Shifting from earlier styles towards a more realistic representation seen in the Kouros of Tenea.

Classical Sculpture, Discobolos

• Naturalistic Art: Portrays realistic human action (e.g., the Discus Thrower) – ideal representation of a moment in time.
• Idealized Representation of Athletes: Focused on athletes as physical ideals (athleticism).
• Compositional Effects: Employ rhythmic movement and balance to represent a moment in the action and show the ideal of human strength.

The Hellenistic Period, Laocoön

• Emotional Expression: Hellenistic sculpture contrasted with the calm harmony of Classical statues; emphasized emotional intensity and suffering.
• Group Sculpture (Laocoön): Three figures entangled in serpents; emphasized the heroic but tragic struggle.
• Emotional and Exaggerated Representations: Portrayed themes of suffering and confrontation with divine powers.
• Transition to the Roman Empire: Foundational work for Roman art as well, signifying dramatic decline of Greek culture.