Art in Ancient Greece
Posted on | May 14, 2008 |
The Art of Ancient Greece has exerted a profound influence on the art and architecture we experience in today. The echoes of Ancient Greece can be seen in buildings, sculptures, and other works of art through the centuries and even in the modern lines of today’s designs.
The art of Ancient Greece is universally recognized as being divided into four periods: Geometric, Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic. However, in reality, there is no sharp difference marking the transition of one period to another. Instead, the styles blend and merge, together creating an aesthetic that is understood and widely recognized as one artistic movement.
Inspired by religion and mythology
Life in ancient Greece was heavily dominated by religion, influenced by mythology and the belief of the presence of a pantheon of gods and goddesses. Subsequently, Greek art in all of its forms is dedicated to honoring the gods and telling their stories.
In ancient Greece, gods were tangible figures that had shape, substance, and a well-known look. All Ancient Greeks knew what Zeus, the king of the gods, looked like, although nobody had ever seen him first hand. The same was true of all the major deities; they had a recognizable human form, complete with tokens and talismans that were often the source of their power.
The ancient Greeks could tell which god or goddess was pictured on a vase or in a sculpture just by looking at the representation. But part of the point of art is to transcend time and space, so clues, usually in the form of the specific god’s symbol, are usually painted or sculpted into every work of art.
The mythological stories told through pottery
Pottery was an integral source of art, and one that permeated life on a daily basis. Pottery was meant to be used, not merely displayed, which is why there is little remaining pottery and it is often badly damaged. Most of the pottery that survived into modern day includes drinking jugs, used for storing wine and water, as well as mixing bowls, which were used to prepare food. There are almost no remaining plates or cups because these were the pieces attracting the most wear and tear. Funeral urns and wine jugs that were presented as trophies are the exception to the daily use rule, and they are more plentifully preserved than some other pieces.
In early pottery, the designs were largely geometric and abstract. The pieces were made from clay that was left to harden, painted, and then fired in a kiln – using much the same process as is used today. Black, white, red and yellow were the most commonly available dyes, and these are the colors that will be seen most frequently. In later periods, stories of Greek history, mythology and religion were told on pieces of pottery. This was a way to reinforce their belief system and honor previous periods of history.
Greek sculptures of historical importance
Sculpture was another popular form of art in ancient Greece. Sculptures were usually made of stone (marble or limestone) or bronze. Bronze was a highly prized and expensive material, and thus, generally only families of extreme wealth could commission a statue or sculpture of bronze. Ancient Grecian sculpture carries on the tradition of other forms of art—telling stories of the gods, Greek history, and honoring the gods.
Most of the art in ancient Greece was functional and decorative, not only aesthetically pleasing. Greek art was used to remind people of their beliefs, what was important in life, and above all, to honor the gods to whom they owed so much.
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