Art
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Pottery - Vases
The Greeks, as well as people living in
Aegean islands, the west coast of Asia minor, and southern Italy and Sicily, made
beautiful vases as early as 6000 B. C. The finest vases were constructed in Athens. Vases
were exported all over the Mediterranean area.
Vases varied in quality from museum
pieces to roughly constructed pieces. During the Mycenaean era the vases began having
simple symmetrical ornaments. Even during the Greek Dark Ages pottery was produced. From
1200-900 B.C. circular ornaments were used on the pottery.
Attic Horse Pyxis
Photo
courtesy and ©1996
The Ancient Greek
World |
From 900-700 B.C., known as the
Geometric Period, patterns such as a meander pattern above were used to decorate pottery
vases. Spirals, diamonds, and crosshatching designs were popular. |
| Greek vases produced after the
Orientalizing Period, which succeeded the Geometric Period, have figure scenes of everyday
life of Ancient Greece, such as sports, banquets, weddings and funerals, and mythological
scenes. These vases tell us a lot about everyday life in Greece. In these pieces the human
figure was painted by a silhouette technique. During the seventh century vases were
painted with animals such as panthers and birds. At this time the vases of Corinth were
decorated with the black-figured technique. |
Attic Black Figure
Amphora
Photo
courtesy and ©1996
The Ancient Greek
World |
Attic Red Figure
Stamnos
ca. 490 b.c.
Photo courtesy
and ©1996
The Ancient Greek
World |
Around 525 B. C. the
potters of Athens discovered the red-figured technique.
Using the black-figure technique the artist drew the
outline of the figure, then the inside of the design was painted. Colors such as white and
blown-red were applied. Details were drawn by a pointed tool.
In the red-figure design the outlines of the figure
was drawn and details were painted by a brush or other tools. Then outside was painted
over. This new technique enabled the Greeks to draw the lines of different thickness or
width. |
By the late fifth century the Greeks
were producing fewer vases because other cities around the Mediterranean begin producing
their own vases.
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Paintings
The Greeks made beautiful paintings.
Unfortunately none of these painting have survived time. The Romans took some back to
Italy after their conquest of Greece. These were burned in fires. Apelles was one of the
greatest painters.
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Sculpture
During the Geometric Period from 900 to
700 B. C. the Greeks built sculptures of bronze, wood, ivory, and clay.
During the Archaic Period from 600 to
480 B. C. sculptures were carved from slabs and placed on the pediment space of a
lot of buildings. This triangular space was filled with fallen soldiers and other men who
gradually rose until there was a tall figure standing in the center.
The Museum at Olympia
Sculptures from the West Pediment of the Temple of Zeus
Battle of Lapiths and Centaurs
Photo
courtesy and © 1994 Kathryn
Andrus-Walck, Greek Art and
Architecture
Funerary Stele for a
woman late 5th century BC
(Athens, National Museum)
Photo
courtesy and © 1994 Kathryn
Andrus-Walck, Greek Art and
Architecture |
During the Archaic Period free standing
sculptures were made of marble and painted. Sculptures were placed on pedestals and lined
the entrance to temples. They were also used as grave markers. |
During the Classical
Period from 480 to 450 B. C. freestanding sculptures were done in a naturalistic style
using high relief. Hollow cast bronze was also used. Later specific measurement for the
perfectly proportioned body was used in the statues.
The Greeks made beautiful sculptures out
of limestone and marble. Unfortunately many of them were burned during the Middle Ages to
produce lime. The lime was used in cement. The Romans copied many of the Greek sculptures.
Some of these have survived. Some of the great sculptors were:
| Myron 480 - 445 B. C.
carved the Discobolos "Discus-Thrower
height 155 cm (61 in)
|
 |
Phidias
490 - 430 B. C.
carved the Statue of Athena |
|
Praxitiles
390 - 330 B. C
"Hermes holding the baby
Dionysus" |
|
Photos courtesy and
© 1994 Kathryn Andrus-Walck, Greek Art and Architecture
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Coins
The Greeks produced their first coins
in the seventh century B. C. The coins were made of electrum which is a alloy of gold and
silver. These coins were plain with no decoration on them. Later King Croisos produced
coins of both gold and silver. These coins were decorated on the fronts with symbols of
Lydia.
The first Greek mainland coins were made in Aigina,
an island southwest of Athens. Soon many cities were making coins. At this time, new
designs were used for the reverse side. When Athens rose as a central power, she refused
to allow other cities to produce their own coins. Everyone used coins that were produced
in Athens. These coins had the head of Athena on the front and the owl on the reverse.
This policy lasted until the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War in 431 B.C. At this time
Athens relaxed her hold and many Aegean cities started to make their own coins again.
After Alexander the Great brought a unification to
Greece, he and his followers produced coins with their portraits, instead of gods or
animals, to show off their power. Some other cities were still producing their own coins,
but they were mainly made from bronze instead of silver. The designs became dull and
unattractive.
Greek coins were named according to how much they
weighed.
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Jewelry
Many pieces of jewelry have been found by excavating
burial sites of the Ancient Greeks. Masterpieces of exceptional workmanship have been
found in Crete and other Aegean Islands where the Minoan Civilization prospered. Great
pieces have also been found from the Mycenae Civilization which preceded the historical
Greek Civilization. Many of the pieces were modeled after Homer's description of Achilles'
shield, Aphrodite's girdle, and of the gold door knobs in the palace at Troy.
During the Geometric and Orientalizing Periods from
1000 to 800 B. C, the art work showed little imagination. Quality jewelry began again
shortly after 800 B. C. with refined techniques and delicate artistry. The Persian Wars
had little effect on th high quality of jewelry that was being produced at the time.
During the Classical Period that followed, the jewelry that was being produced was of such
high quality that it looked like miniature scultures. After Alexander the Great opened up
the area, the influence of Oriental design can be seen in the jewelry.
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