Ancient Greek and Roman Art

Questions and Answers

The Romans were not impressed by Greek art and did not incorporate it into their own art.

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The contrapposto is a stiff and upright standing pose.

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UNESCO World Heritage Sites are designated for their natural beauty only.

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The influence of Greek art on Roman art is a minor aspect of artistic development in ancient times.

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The Romans encountered Greek culture through war only.

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Vocabulary review is not necessary to understand this chapter.

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UNESCO World Heritage Sites have no legal protection.

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The Romans were not influenced by Greek artistic styles and techniques.

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The UNESCO is responsible for designating historical and cultural sites as World Heritage Sites.

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Heroic nudity is a concept used in modern art to depict everyday people.

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The Roman Republic was established in 146 BCE.

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Julius Caesar was the first Emperor of Rome.

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The Roman Empire reached its height under emperors like Augustus, Trajan, and Napoleon.

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The Western Roman Empire fell in 1453 CE.

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Ancient Rome underwent significant historical and cultural developments that shaped its growth and eventual dominance.

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The Punic Wars were fought against Greece.

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The Roman Empire expanded its territories through peaceful negotiations.

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Augustus Caesar was a military leader who rose to prominence during the Roman Republic.

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The Roman Empire declined gradually, with the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 1453 AD.

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The Romans added their own engineering innovations to Greek architectural orders.

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Roman sculptures were heavily influenced by Etruscan poses and drapery styles.

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Greek literature and philosophy had a significant impact on Roman culture.

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Roman art was solely influenced by Greek art, with no innovations of its own.

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The Romans adopted only two Greek architectural orders, Doric and Ionic.

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Mosaics and frescos were used exclusively in public spaces in ancient Rome.

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The Eastern Roman Empire, also known as the Byzantine Empire, fell in 476 AD.

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The Romans brought Greek works of art to Rome solely as spoils of war.

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Architectural orders originated in ancient Rome.

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The Doric order originated in eastern Greece.

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The Ionic order is characterized by short and heavy columns.

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The Corinthian order is the simplest of the Greek orders.

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The Tuscan order originated in ancient Greece.

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The Composite order is a combination of the Doric and Ionic orders.

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Acanthus leaves are a typical feature of Doric capitals.

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The Romans did not develop the use of sculpted acanthus leaves.

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The Temple of Concordia is an example of the Ionic order.

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The Pantheon in Rome is an example of the Ionic order.

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The Arch of Titus is an example of the Corinthian order.

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The Romans only used Acanthus decoration in Renaissance architecture.

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The Parthenon was destroyed only once in its entire history.

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Augustus was the great-nephew of Julius Caesar and was not named in his will as his adopted son.

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The Romans did not use Acanthus decoration in their architecture.

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The Roman Pantheon was rebuilt repeatedly as a result of war and conquest.

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The Parthenon was originally a Christian cathedral.

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The Acanthus decoration was only used in Gothic architecture.

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The Romans converted the Parthenon into a Christian cathedral.

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The goal of the reconstruction of the Parthenon is to return it to its appearance in the Roman Classical period.

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The Pantheon was damaged and rebuilt over and over throughout its life.

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The Parthenon was built in the center of Athens.

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Roman temples were primarily used for religious purposes only.

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The Pantheon is built on a raised pedestal in a 4:9 ratio.

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The Greeks perfected the recipe for concrete.

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The Pantheon is mostly constructed of limestone and marble.

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The dome of the Pantheon was the largest one built until modern times.

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Greek temples were built on streets at ground level.

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The Pantheon has columns on all sides of the building.

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The construction of large domes did not exist in ancient Rome.

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The Pantheon is dedicated to Athena, the patron of Athens.

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The Romans perfected the recipe for cement and built the largest dome, the Pantheon, using ancient Roman techniques.

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Greek statues often depicted idealized forms with a focus on the perfect proportions of the human body.

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Greek temples typically had pitched roofs covered with marble slabs.

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Roman temples often featured fluted columns that were free-standing.

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Roman statues often featured transparent drapery that clung to the contours of the body.

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The design and structure of Greek temples was more complex and ornate than Roman temples.

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Roman statues were often intended for outdoor public spaces.

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The Spear Bearer is a Roman marble copy of a Greek bronze statue.

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Roman statues more frequently depicted mythological figures and gods.

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The Romans made significant innovations to Greek architectural orders.

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The original bronze statue of The Spear Bearer is attributed to Polykleitos.

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Greek statues often featured a wider range of body types and ages.

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Roman temples were less decorative and had fewer sculptures than Greek temples.

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The Pantheon's dome was the largest built until the Renaissance.

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Roman statues were solely used as decorative features in public buildings.

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Greek art had no influence on Roman art.

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Roman art was heavily influenced by Etruscan styles and techniques.

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Greek literature and philosophy had no significant impact on Roman culture.

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The contrapposto pose is a stiff and upright standing pose.

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Roman statues often depicted figures with idealized, athletic physiques.

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In Greek art, old, disabled, or ugly nudes were commonly depicted.

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The statue of Augustus of Prima Porta is an example of a heroic nude.

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Roman mosaics often featured representations of gods.

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Roman art was more realistic than Greek art.

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Women were commonly depicted as nude goddesses in earlier Greek art.

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Ancient mosaic artists used precious stones for their tesserae.

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Wall mosaics were more common than floor mosaics in ancient Rome.

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The contrapposto pose was characteristic of Roman art.

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Heroic nudity is a concept used in modern art to depict everyday people.

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Christian imagery was never depicted on Roman mosaics.

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Augustus of Prima Porta is depicted as a young military leader.

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Ancient mosaic artists used a single material for their tesserae.

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Mosaics were used exclusively for decorative purposes.

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Greek art was not influential in Roman art.

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Il Dorìforo is an example of a heroic nude.

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Tesserae were always left in their natural colors.

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The statue of Augustus of Prima Porta is a work of great art and political propaganda.

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Ancient mosaic artists created their designs on the surface before placing the tesserae.

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The gaps between tesserae were left unfilled.

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Ancient mosaic art was unique to Roman civilization.

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The Villa Romana del Casale is a famous Roman villa located in the town of Piazza Armerina, in Greece.

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The mosaics in the Villa Romana del Casale were created using a combination of stone, glass, and ceramic materials.

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The Great Hunt mosaic and the Bikini Girls mosaic are two of the most famous mosaics in the Villa Romana del Casale.

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The owner of the Villa Romana del Casale was known to be a wealthy merchant who made his fortune trading exotic animals.

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The mosaics in the Villa Romana del Casale were created using a simple adhesive made from water and sand.

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The Villa Romana del Casale is famous for its vast collection of Roman frescoes.

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The Bikini Girls mosaic depicts young women engaged in various athletic activities while wearing ancient Roman tunics.

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The Villa Romana del Casale provides insight into the daily life and culture of the ancient Roman lower class.

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The Villa Romana del Casale is a small villa that covers a limited area.

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The mosaics in the Villa Romana del Casale were created by a single artist who worked alone.

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Study Notes

L'influenza dell'arte greca sull'arte romana

The Romans admired Greek art and adopted many Greek artistic styles and techniques
Greek architectural orders (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian) were used in Roman architecture
Roman sculptures replicated Greek poses, drapery styles, and attention to anatomical accuracy
Greek geometric and ornamental patterns were used in Roman mosaics and frescoes
Greek literature and philosophy had a profound impact on Roman culture, influencing artistic themes and concepts

Architectural Orders

Doric Order: originated in Greece, characterized by short and heavy columns with simple capitals, no base in early examples
Ionic Order: originated in eastern Greece, characterized by slender fluted columns with more elaborate capitals and the "volute" scroll ornament
Corinthian Order: originated in Greece, characterized by narrowest fluted columns with elaborate capitals including the acanthus leaf
Tuscan Order: developed in Rome, characterized by a plain design, non-fluted columns, and simple capitals
Composite Order: developed in Rome, based on the Ionic order capital with the acanthus leaves of the Corinthian

Acanthus Leaves

Ancient Greeks used acanthus leaves sparingly, while Romans fully developed their use
Acanthus leaves are an identifying feature of Corinthian and Composite capitals
Romans elaborated the leaves by curling them and using them liberally for grand buildings

Historical and Political Changes in Ancient Rome

Monarchy to Republic: Rome transitioned from a monarchy to a republic around 509 BCE, marking a shift in governance
Expansion and Conquest: Rome expanded its territories through conquest, leading to the acquisition of territories around the Mediterranean
Julius Caesar and the End of the Republic: Julius Caesar's rise to power marked the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire
Roman Empire: The Roman Empire reached its height under emperors like Augustus, Trajan, and Hadrian, expanding territories, constructing infrastructure, and spreading Roman culture and law
Decline and Fall: The Roman Empire faced internal strife, economic issues, and invasions from barbarian tribes, leading to its gradual decline and eventual fall

Comparison of Greek and Roman Temples

Greek temples were built on hills overlooking cities, while Roman temples were built in the center of cities
Greek temples were primarily used for religious purposes, while Roman temples served a dual purpose as places of worship and political/administrative centers
Greek temples had a raised pedestal, steps on all sides, and columns on all sides, while Roman temples were rounded with an attached portico entrance and columns only on the portico.### Architecture
The Parthenon is built on a raised platform with a 4:9 ratio and has steps on all sides, allowing it to be approached from all directions.
The Pantheon is a circular building with a portico entrance and is largely at street level with few steps.
The Parthenon has columns on all sides, while the Pantheon has columns only on the portico.

Materials

The primary materials used in the Parthenon are limestone and marble with some use of iron for strength.
The Romans perfected the recipe for concrete and used it extensively in the Pantheon, along with brick and marble.

Columns

The Parthenon is built with simple Doric columns.
Roman temples, like the Pantheon, often used the Corinthian order and featured fluted columns that were engaged, meaning they were partly built into the structure.

Roofs

Greek temples typically had pitched roofs covered with terracotta tiles or marble slabs, with sculptures on the pediments.
Roman temples had a variety of roofing styles, including pitched roofs and barrel vaults, and sometimes used concrete and brick construction.

General Characteristics

Greek temples were simpler and purer in design and structure, constructed in the post-and-lintel way.
Roman temples were more decorative and adorned with sculptures, reliefs, and intricate detailing, often featuring engaged columns and pilasters.

Sculpture

Greek statues often depicted gods, goddesses, and heroes, while Roman statues more frequently depicted historical figures, emperors, and prominent citizens.
Greek statues typically emphasized idealized forms, with a focus on the perfect proportions of the human body.
Roman statues often emphasized realism and individuality, portraying the subject with unique features and expressions.
Greek statues frequently featured flowing, transparent drapery, while Roman statues often featured heavy, voluminous drapery.

Mosaics

Mosaics are pictures or patterns produced by arranging together small colored pieces of hard material, such as stone, tile, or glass.
Roman mosaics typically feature animal sacrifices, domestic scenes, or geometric patterns, while Christian imagery also appears on some Roman mosaics.
Floor mosaics were often more abstract than wall mosaics and seldom contained representations of gods.
Ancient mosaic artists used a variety of materials, including stone, ceramic, glass, shells, and precious metals, and created an adhesive mixture to adhere the tesserae to the substrate.### The Roman Villa Owner
The identity of the villa owner has been debated by scholars, with various hypotheses proposed
Some believe the owner may have been an imperial figure, possibly Maxentius, based on military insignia and mosaic dating

The "Bikini Girls" Mosaic

The mosaic depicts young women engaging in athletic activities, wearing early forms of bikinis
This artwork has sparked interest due to its representation of ancient Roman fashion and female sports
The mosaic is located in Piazza Armerina, Sicily

Other Examples of Roman Mosaics

Pompeii and Herculeum, Campania
Santa Costanza, Rome
Paestum, Salerno, Campania (Greek Temples and Ruins)
Valley of the Temples, Agrigento, Sicily
Velia Archaeological Site, Campania
Greek Theater, Syracuse, Sicily
Amphitheatre (Greek with Roman additions), Taormina, Sicily
The Roman Forum and Colosseum, Rome (Roman Temples and Ruins)
Ostia Antica, Ostia
Pompeii and Herculeum, Campania

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Explore the significant influence of Greek art on Roman art in ancient times, including the incorporation of styles, techniques, and motifs. Learn about the artistic development in ancient Greece and Rome.