Ancient Greece
I cannot teach anybody anything. I can only make them think. - Socrates (470-399 BCE)
Free Response QuestionJust over 100 years separate these two statues. Identify these statues and their dates and compare and contrast the ways in which the human body is shown in these two sculptures.
Free Response QuestionThe Images below show the Great Altar of Zeus at Pergamon
and a detail of Athena Battling Alkyoneos. Describe the scene taking place on the frieze. Why has this scene been placed on this monument? What contemporary events are paralleled in the scenes depicted in this work? What is the message this scene was meant to convey to the ancient Greek viewer? |
Key Ideas
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The Human Figure for the Greeks: Obtaining Perfection
Archaic550 BCE- 6th c.
Artists: ??? Artworks: kouroi and korai Descriptions: Idealization, stylized, FRONTAL, rigid |
Severe480 BCE- 5th c.
Artists: Kritios Artworks: Pedimental sculpture of the Temple of Aphaia and the Temple of Artemis, Kritios boy Descriptions: Contrapposto, movement |
Classical450 BCE- 5th c.
Artists: Phidias, Polyklitos, Myron Artworks: Riace warrior,Zeus/Poseidon, Doryphoros,Diskobolos, Nike Adjusting her Sandal Descriptions: Idealization, unemotional, PERFECTION, self-contained |
Late Classical350 BCE- 4th c.
Artists: Praxitiles, Scopas, Lysippus Artworks: Aphrodite of Knidos,Hermes and the Infant Dionysus,Apoxyomenos, Farnes Herakles Descriptions: NATURAL, humanized, relaxed, elongation |
Hellenistic250 BCE- 3rd c.
Artists: Pythokritos, Polydorus, Agesander, Athenodorus Artworks: Dying Gaul, Nike of Samothrace, Barberini Faun,Seated Boxer, Old Market Woman, Laocoon and his Sons Descriptions: EMOTIONAL, dramatic, exaggeration, movement, individualistic (adapted from Dr. Coad) |
Additional Resources* YouTube Video: Crash Course
* YouTube Video: The Development of Ancient Greek Art * YouTube Video: Secrets of the Parthenon * YouTube Video: Classical Orders * YouTube Video: SmartHistory's Nike of Samothrace Race Warriors PBS Video: The Parthenon's Optical Illusions FRQ Practice Obtaining Perfection Chart Nike of Samothrace from Emory University Seated Boxer by the Met in NY The Alexander Mosaic - article Visit Khan Academy's Smarthistory videos for LOTS of information on individual artworks from Ancient Greece |
VocabularyAcropolis
Architrave Athena Canon Caryatid Cella Contrapposto Doric Entablature Frieze Gigantomachy Ionic Kouros Kore Metope Nike Opisthodomos Panathenaic Procession Pediment Peplos Peripteral Peristyle Propylaea Shaft Stele Triglyph Volute Zeus |
Artworks ListSculpture
1. Kritios Boy 2. Anavayos Kouros 3. Peplos Kore 4. Doryphoros 5. Riace Warrior 6. Diskobolos 7. Helios, Horses and Dionysus 8. Plaque of the Ergastines 9. Victory Adjusting Her Sandal 10 Grave Stele 11. Nike of Samothrace 12. Athena from the Pergamon Altar 13. Seated Boxer 14. Old Market Woman Architecture 15. Parthenon 16. Altar of Zeus at Pergamon Pottery 17. Niobides Krater Greek Painting 18. Alexander Mosaic from the House of Faun |
Notecard Images
Acknowledgements: Information contributed by Silvia Wiedman
Links and information provided by Valerie M. Park © 2013 www.mchsapah.com
Special thanks to the AP Summer Institute in Rome collaboration with Margaret Sharkoffmadrid
Links and information provided by Valerie M. Park © 2013 www.mchsapah.com
Special thanks to the AP Summer Institute in Rome collaboration with Margaret Sharkoffmadrid