Beauty of Ancient Greece

The ancient Greek people had many accomplishments in architecture & sculpture from 600-200 BC. Here's a few gnarly things that they did! :)

Statue of a Youth 

ca. 590–580 B.C.; Archaic

This represents Apollo or an idealized athletic body. 

Krittios Boy

480 BC

Example of contrapposto, which is 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. The style of this sculpture is Archaic. It is also considered the precursor to the later classical sculptures of athletes. 

3 Goddesses

435 BC

Originally located on the east pediment at the Parthenon but is now located at the British Museum. The artist of this sculpture had the models wear wet clothing so that their body was more distinguished. The detail in this is incredible, like the shapes of the knees and legs. I wish people made sculptures like this today. They're beautiful. The style of this is classical.

The Dying Gaul

230-220 BC

The statue is a second-century AD Roman copy of a third-century BC Hellenistic bronze statue. It is believed that these people had the most athletic and best looking bodies so they would go into battle naked. Let's just say they were defeated very easily because they had no armor! The style of this is Hellenistic.

Nike of Somathrace

200 BC

originally stood on the marble bow of a sculpted warship, a monument that commemorated a naval victory. She is designed to look like she is landing on the bow of the ship. Her arms are originally supposed to be at her mouth while she calls out "victory!". This statue resides at the Louvre in France. She was discovered in 1863 and is of the Hellenistic style.

Caryatids

421-405 BC

A caryatid is a sculpted female figure serving as an architectural support taking the place of a column or pillar. These belong to the Erectheum located in Athens. They are categorized as classical architecture.

The Parthenon 

448-432 BC

Located in Acropolis, Athens. Celebrated the birth of Athena Parthenos. Built during the Classical time period. The columns were 30 feet tall with the order of architecture being Doric. The dimensions are 100 ft wide X 228 ft long! Made up of 70,000 different pieces, and was made without blue prints. That is incredible for how fantastic this building is. The base of the building is not flat, but bows to make it look flat. It is an example of an optical illusion used in architecture. Much disaster has come upon the Parthenon, hence the condition it is in today. It was even blown apart by Napoleon Bonaparte! A cannon ball hit the building. 

Amphora

530 BC

Jar for carrying liquid with 2 handles. One of the first works of art where the artists actually signed their work.

3 Orders of Architecture

Doric                            Ionic                   Corinthian 

Greek Key

Decorative border that represents unity.