G5 -1 Greece Guide Part 1

Art of Ancient Greece

Apollo’s Temple at Delphi

This unit presents an important part of our course for it concerns with the very foundation of the Western civilization. We are going to spend more time in this section and work on two guides devoted to Greek art. Try to learn as much as you can.

Before you open your book, let us define the key term “classical that is being used in several senses.

IN HISTORY

• Classical world of Greece and Rome –these two ancient civilizationsdeveloped such high standards and enduring models in art and life that this period in human history was named Classical.
  The civilizations of Greece and Rome are called classical

The Greek and Roman cultures are called classical

Greco-Roman art is called classical

• Classicalperiod in Greece – one of the periods in the history of Greece marked by the highest artistic and cultural achievements.We will study it in the next Greek Guide (part 2).

IN EVERYDAY LIFE

I am sure these applications are better known to you but I want you to realize how they are related to their Greek origins.

3. We use the word ClassicalStyle when we talk about the taste or style based on the principles of clarity, harmony and order – standards that were set by Greek and Roman art.

4. Finally, the general meaning of classical or classic would be 'first ranking',

'the best of its kind', and 'enduring'. Thus, a classic carmeans the finest and most renowned brand in the industry. Am I correct? A dress can be classic as well as. The Americans also use the word classy as a sort of Argo abbreviation when they talk about people whose demeanor and looks are proper and who hold themselves with dignity.

It is not likely that we think about ancient Greeceand Rome when using these words today, is it? Yet, when we call anything classical we pay homage to the high standards of beauty, harmony, and ideal of perfection. And when we compliment someone’s style or demeanor we refer to the ancient Greeks and Romans who claimed the importance of responsibility,duty and integrity prescribed for every good person and citizen.

Now let us begin reading about the celebrated civilizations that set the high classical standards for the millennium to come. Set a goal to learn as much as possible. Take advantage of any extracurricular opportunity. Thus, I would encourage you to watch this introductory video. It will be also helpful for the purpose of orientation in this extensive unit.

Extra Credit Project: Sum up 8 minutes of video in 8 statements (1 bonus point)

Greek Art History from Goodbye-Art Academy

Ancient Greek Art: 8-statement Review
Notice that they start with the Classical period and after that go back to the beginning.
Reminder: When you hear something that you want to put on paper, simply stop the video.
Try a CC feature for subtitles/close captions and see if you findthem helpful (right lower corner).

• …

• .
  

One more thing to keep in mind if you want to be scholarly minded students of history. Thereal story of Greece started earlier – in the Aegean world covered in the previous chapter.

/Now it is the time to open Chapter 3

CLASSICAL ART:
GREECE AND ROME

“… the glory that wasGreece …

/Complete the well known line by Edgar Allan Poe (on top of page)

The preface is so important that we will go though it together and in detail.

“No other culture has had as far-reaching influence….(p. 45)

/Name the areas in which Greek influence can be felt in our modern world.
*…

"Greece has asserted itself time and again over the 3,000 years since its birth"(p. 45)

This phrase means that there were several revivals of the Classical style in the Western culture since it had developed 2,500 years ago in the Mediterranean world. You should know three major revivals of Greco-Roman culture.

1. Renaissance:“During the___century, there was a revival of Greek art and culture…”
   /Indicate the century/(Renaissance began in Italy in the 1400s)
   

2. Neo-classical style:“On the eve of French Revolution of 1789…”
   What source of inspiration the artists turn to? Complete the phrase.

You remember, of course, that the word neo means new.

3. Greek Revival style:“Our founders ….
/What our founders looked to when building the new American cities and towns?

Next time when you go to Washington, look around to notice that you are surrounded by the Greek and Roman architecture – the National Gallery and other buildings along the Pennsylvania avenuelook exactly like classical temples. But you do not even go that far - there are many houses with the Greek columns in your own town as well.

* * * * * * * * *

Describe the historical relationship between Greece and Rome after Greece was conquered and absorbed by Rome.

*…

Hellenism– *[look up in Glossary]

Let me add to this:

Hellenes - This is how the Greeks called themselves (after the mythical ancestorHellen).

Hellas – this is how they called Greece.

GREECE

To claim that we can get along without …

The ideas of HUMANISM and DEMOCRACY were the most important contributions of the Greek thought to the Western civilization. The first time in the history the value was put on the individual.

Besides these contributions there were another fundamental concepts that were introduced by the Greeks and have been used in European culture ever since. Define these basic concepts.

Try to do it in a simple and clear way. Verbalize the notions how you understand them from the text.

This section ends with an interesting thought true through the entire history of humankind.

“As with many civilizations, the development of Greece…(p. 46) /Complete

Four major periods in the art history of ancient Greece spanned together about 1,000 years:

GEOMETRIC period - Birth

ARCHAIC period - Maturation

CLASSICAL period - Perfection (Peak)

HELLENISTIC period - Decline

Geometric Period

Why is this period called Geometric? – *

The Dipylon Vase as an example of the Geometric Style in Greek Art. (8th century B.C.)

What do they mean when they say that the human figures are renderedin a “conceptual manner” and are “highly abstracted”? Depict how the human figureslook? –

7th CENTURYB.C. (700 - 600 B.C) – Aspan between Geometric and Archaic periods.

(This period is not in your book)

The Greeks undertook the expanded sea travels, visited Egypt and the Near East.

This influence could be easily traced in Greek art of the followingArchaic period.

For example, when you will be looking at the kouros(soon) see whether this statue of nude youth reminds you the Egyptian statues.

Archaic Period

Type in the dates in the left column and make sure you understand why these centuries and
why “late 7th” and “early 5th.” I will not ask you this on the exam but take a chance to practice.

Archaic– *…

/What does this word means in Greek and why was it assigned to this particular period? (seeGlossary)

Vase PaintingArchaic period

An impressive number of painted vases of various forms came down to us from ancient Greece.

I put together a few most common types (not in your book)

On term vases

There were a great variety of different types of Greek vessels traditionally called vases.

Thisis not exactly the right term because these "vases" were not used for flowers or house decoration but had various functions (see terms 'krater' and 'lekythos').

The term came about only in the 18th century when there was a huge “fashion on Greeks”, the collected Greek vessels were used for decorating the palaces’ interiors, and they provided the models for the vase industry.This is why the shape of the vases that you have at home, look so much like the Greek vessels.

When you look next time at the modern vase, think about its historical ancestor - Greek amphora that 3,000 years ago was in use in every Greek house for such a basic need as storing oil and wine.

We observe the crucial changes in rendering the human figure in art of this period compared to the previous one - Geometric period.

Vasewith Women working Wool on a Loom.Greek, c. 540 B.C. Archaic Period
From the Metropolitan Museum of Art[“A Closer Look”on page 48]

Start reading “Vase Painting” section

“During the Geometric period the human figurewas subordinated to decorative motifs, but in the Archaic period it became *­___/Complete/

Francois Vasepainted by Kleitias. Greek, c. 570 B.C. ____ Archaic Period

Francois Vase.Boar hunting scene (detail)

Black-Figure Vasesof theArchaic period

It is pretty clear why such a name came about, right?

Figures are*… (color)

Background is -*… (color) /Read paragraphs 2- 3 and describe technique/

Red-Figure Vasesof theClassical period
The next stage in the history of vase-painting:
Figures are *… (color)

Background is - *… (color)

ArchitectureArchaic Period

During theArchaic period, the major principles for architecture had been developed that continued to exist throughout ancient Greece as well as throughout the entire history of Western civilization.

/Sum up first paragraph/

Temple architecture

Megaron- *___
Cellain Greek temple is*___

The overall shape of the temple was*___
(Model)

GREEK ARCHITECTURAL ORDERS

For all unknown terms look in the Glossary at the end of your handbook and write down the definitions. This is a “must know” vocabulary.

Three orders (or styles) in Greek architecture:

*

*

*

Note: it is the shape of capital that allows you to identify the order

Try to find a building built in the Classical style in your own town. My guess would be that it is bank or court house.

ARCHITECTURAL ORDER

Define architectural terms. (Look up in Glossaryat the end of the book).

Example: Pediment - any triangularspace surrounded by cornices.

SCULPTURE Archaic period

"In the Archaic period, sculpture emerged as a principal art form."

* /What changed?/

Fallen Warriorfrom the temple at Aegina. C. 500 B.C.

Which part of the temple was decorated by this sculpture? - *

Stylization – By this moment you are supposed to come across this word thatyou have already met in the previous chapter.You should remember that this term is also related to theterms “conceptual" (e.g., manner) and “conventional"(e.g., representation”).

What do these terms mean? Use the sculpture ofFallen Warrior from the temple at Aegina

asan example of stylization. Explain how you understand it.

Which part of the figure, do you think, is done more realistically - his body or head?

*

The conventions are most obvious in the sculpting of the “mask-like” face. Describe them.

*

*

Notice a strange smile on his face(not exactly adequate for a dying man). It is called an “archaic smile”. You will come across this new term on the next page. Here we deal again with a conventional approach (not a naturalistic one).

Free-Standing Sculpture began to appear about* _

Kouros

Archaic Smile- * /Find the term in Glossary/

This facial expression is better seen on Kore. There are several theories explaining the possible meaning of this somewhat mysterious smile.One of them asserts that the sculptors tried to give more live to the human face.

There is yet another hypothesis– it suggests thatthe Greek sculptors intended to pass the state of being blessed and/or these figures could be the representations of gods. As for the warrior's smile, there might be some explanation found in the code of brave behavior, ability to endure physical suffering and value of personal honor by which the Greek men had been raised.

TERMS

Peplos - *

Encaustic- *

/Read about this unusual and very durable kind of paintin the glossary /

“The Greeks made their gods into men and their men into gods” (page 52)

Indeed, the Greeks pictured their gods very much as human beings. Remember this when you look at the Greek statues and read the myths. At the same time, the humans depicted as perfect beings – the beautiful idealized figures.

When and how did the Archaic period end? Make brief historical notes of the last paragraph.

Naxos Island

In conclusion of Greek Guide 5-1
Major artistic achievements of Archaic Art

Next Guide will continue the Greek theme -it will be devoted to the next two periods - Classical and Hellenistic. Take the Greek QUIZ (# 4) only after completion of both Greek guides.