Greek Art and Archeology |
From helping you find Greek Gear, like our Delta Sigma Theta Merchandise, to helping you learn more about Greek art and archeology, we're here for YOU! It's our goal to provide you with just the Greek Clothing and Delta Sigma Theta Merchandise you're looking for, as well as Greek resources and article to ensure you're in touch with the rich history of being a Greek! When looking at examples of Ancient Greek art and archeology, an understanding of the culture is necessary. A basic description of the cultural influences on Ancient Greek art is given at Greek Art. Art Historians divide the art of Ancient Greece into three periods. The first, the Archaic period, began about 1000 BC and was overtaken by the Classical period around the 6th century, BC. The Hellenistic period began during the 3rd century, BC. A good overall history of Ancient Greece is at Ancient Greek Art, Greek Art, and Shefton Museum of Greek Art and Archeology.
Art of the Archaic period is best typified by Greek vase, or pottery, painting and a good discussion on vase painting can be found at Vase Painting. Another site with extensive photos of this pottery is at Ancient Greek Art and a comprehensive site with information on all types of Greek Art is Art and Archeology. Another good source is at Greek Art, where photographs of Ancient Greek art can be found. For all areas of Greek art, Greek Art and Archeology covers all eras and types.
Classical Greek art embodies simplicity, balance, and beauty. The Greeks portrayed their Gods in human form with an emphasis on the ideals of spirit, form and intellect. As the founders of democracy and its tenets of equality, it stands to reason that their Gods would also share human qualities, as explained in Greek Art This striving for perfection of form can be found throughout Greek art and archeology. The Ancient Greeks were, in many respects, the original humanists and their cultural standards formed the basis of the later Renaissance. Ancient Art and Architecture has extensive information on all historical periods of Ancient Greece.
Very little remains of the art of Ancient Greece. The paintings of their most famous Classical period painters, Polygnotus of Thasos, did not survive. Many sculptures and buildings were destroyed by early Christians who looked upon them as pagan sculpture. Others were stolen in war, smashed by earthquakes, or in the case of bronze statues, melted during wars. The names of most sculptors are not known, with the exception of Phidias, the designer of the Parthenon, and Praxiteles, who sculpted Aphrodite of Knidos in the 4th century BC. ArtLex on Greek Art displays examples of Greek art and architecture, as does the sculpture page at The Classics Pages. Interestingly enough, most of the Greek Sculptures were painted. Typically the hair and Greek apparel, such as in our Delta Sigma Theta Merchandise, was painted in bold colors. Whereas, the skin and eyes were left unpainted i.e. natural stone color. The following art history sources offer both information and photos about Greek art:
The architecture of Ancient Greece has always been emulated throughout the western hemisphere. The Greeks were the originators of both the Doric and the Ionic columns, and an in depth explanation of the similarities and differences between the two is given at A History of Ancient Greek Art. Photos and text displaying the column types can also be found at Ancient Greek Architecture : Temples and the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian Orders. The Ancient Greeks created four of the Wonders of the World: the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Colossus of Rhodes and the Lighthouse of Alexandria. None of them survives today.
Although the majority of the Ancient Greek art did not survive, the Etruscans (early Romans) copied the Greek sculptures and architecture and much of that work, though generally inferior to the originals, remains. During the Hellenistic period that began with the death of Alexander the Great, Greek art became more naturalistic. It also began to see influences from other countries and cultures, beginning a decline in quality. Greek Art, Hellenistic Art and Archaeology Subject Guide at the McGill Library has many documents on the Hellenistic Period. Comments or Interested in Learning More? |