AP Art History: Greek Art

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Athenian agora

Athenian agora

Period: Archaic through Hellenistic

Function: Center of life for the Greeks

Content: Buildings for government and commerce. Links commercial, political, and religious aspects of life

Anavyos Kouros

Period: Archaic c.530 B.C.E.

Form: Marble statue

Function: Funerary; welcomes mourners

Content: Man stands with an archaic smile, left leg forward. Better proportions. Perfect form. Rounder, softer.

Peplos Kore

Period: Archaic c.530 B.C.E.

Form: Marble statue

Function: Funerary; votive offering

Content: Goddess wears a peplos; natural, simple. Women always clothed. Buried at grave. Once held identity in left hand.

Niobides Krater

Period: Classical c.460-450 B.C.E.

Form: Black-figure vase

Function: Funerary, narrative

Content: Severe style is shown in serious faces. Niobe's kids are killed.

Doryphoros

Period: Early Classical c.450-440 B.C.E.

Artist: Polykleitos

Form: Marble copy of bronze original

Function: Decorative

Content: Perfect man is shown. Harmonic proportions balance. Weighted vs. relaxed. Canon is used. Contrapposto. Movement. Numerical ratios.

Athens Acropolis

Period: Early Classical c.447-410 B.C.E.

Architects: Iktinos and Kallikrates

Form: Marble

Function: Town center

Content: Pericles patroned art. Athens had to be rebuilt.

Parthenon

Period: Early Classical c.447-410 B.C.E.

Architects: Iktinos and Kallikrates

Form: Doric, stone

Function: Temple for Athena

Content: Doric structure with ionic interior. Mathematical proportions. Optical illusion. Looks southeast. Decorated under Phidias.

Helios, Horses, and Dionysus

Period: Early Classical 5th Century B.C.E.

Form: Marble statues from East Pediment

Function: Decorative

Content: Left- Helios' horses emerge from horizon. Cornice piece. Draped clothing. Man (Dionysus) entered realm of gods.

Plaque of the Ergustines

Period: Early Classical 5th Century B.C.E.

Form: Marble relief

Function: Narrative

Content: Panathenaic Procession takes place. Gods watch. Citizens look noble. Democracy, balanced time. Idealism. Column-like. Contrapposto.

Victory (Nike) Adjusting her Sandal

Period: Early Classical 5th Century B.C.E.

Form: Marble

Function: Decorative

Content: Athena is shown adjusting her sandal. Humanized. Temple of Athena. Nearly transparent garments. Folds form intricate linear patterns. Less ideal. Marks transition into Late Classical.

Grave Stele of Hegeso

Period: Late Classical c.410 B.C.E.

Form: Marble

Function: Funerary

Content: Hegeso examines jewels with servant. Daily life. Difference in clothing. Grave stele.

Great Altar of Zeus and Athena at Pergamon

Period: Hellenistic c.175 B.C.E.

Form: Marble with reliefs

Function: Honors Zeus

Content: Gigantomachy friezes. Ionic.

Athena Battling Alkyoneos

Period: Hellenistic c.175 B.C.E.

Form: Marble frieze

Function: Narrative; Altar of Zeus

Content: Athena battles Alkyoneos. Gigantomachy. Emotional. Violent movement; swirling drapery. Vivid depictions of suffering. Athena grabs Alkyoneos' hair; Nike flies to crown. High relief: dark shadows.

Winged Victory of Samothrace

Period: Hellenistic c.190 B.C.E.

Form: Marble

Function: Decorative

Content: Nike lands on ship's prow to crown victor at sea. Statue in fountain heightens dramatic effect. Wings still beat. Wind sweeps drapery.

Seated Boxer

Period: Hellenistic c.100 B.C.E.

Form: Bronze statue

Function: Decorative

Content: Old, defeated boxer is shown with broken nose and battered eyes. Blood drips down forehead. Not as ideal. Emotion. Disappointed. Looking at opponent.

Acropolis

A fortified hilltop in an ancient Greek city

Agora

the marketplace in ancient Greece

Amphiprostyle

having four columns in the front and rear of a temple

Amphora

a tall ancient Greek or Roman jar with two handles and a narrow neck.

Caryatid

a female figure that functions as a supporting column

Contropposto

an asymmetrical arrangement of the human figure in which the line of the arms and shoulders contrasts with while balancing those of the hips and legs.

Corinthian

This style of column has elongated capitals that are decorated with leaves.

Doric

This style of column features simple, heavy columns without bases.

Entablature

a horizontal, continuous lintel on a classical building supported by columns or a wall, comprising the architrave, frieze, and cornice.

frieze

a broad horizontal band of sculpted or painted decoration, especially on a wall near the ceiling.

Ionic Column

This is a Greek column with short, fluted shafts and scroll-like decorations on its capital.

Kore

an archaic Greek statue of a young woman, standing and clothed in long loose robes.

Isocephalism

the tradition of depicting heads of figures on the same level

Kouros

Greek word for "male youth." An Archaic Greek statue of a standing, nude youth.

Krater

An ancient Greek wide-mouthed bowl for mixing wine and water.

Metope

a square space between triglyphs in a Doric frieze.

Pediment

the triangular top of a temple that contains sculpture

Stoa

an ancient Greek covered walkway having columns on one side and a wall on the other

Tholos

an ancient Greek circular shrine

Essay Question

The work shown is a copy of Doryphoros (Spear Bearer). Describe at least two visual characteristics of this representation of the male nude.

Using specific visual evidence, explain how Doryphoros (Spear Bearer) continued Greek traditions in terms of the representations of the male nude.

Using specific visual evidence, explain how Doryphoros (Spear Bearer) demonstrates changes from Greek traditions in terms of the representations of the male nude.

Using specific contextual evidence, explain why the artist deviated from previous traditions in terms of his choices with his representation of the human body.