Art History Before 1450
Instructor: Roberta A. Mayer, Ph.D.  
Early, High, and Late Classical Greek Art
Study Guide 6
Classical — 480-400 B.C.
Early Classical
Architecture and Architectural Sculpture
Early Classical, East pediment of the Temple of Zeus, Olympia, Greece, ca. 470-456 B.C.E.
Early Classical, Seer, from the east pediment of the Temple of Zeus, Olympia, ca. 479-456 B.C.E.

Early Classical, Athena, Herakles, and Atlas with the apples of the Hesperides, Temple of Zeus, Olympia, Greece, ca. 470-456 B.C.E.



Sculpture

Early Classical, Kritios Boy, ca. 480 B.C.E.

Early Classical, Warrior from the sea of Riace, Italy, ca. 460-450 B.C.E.

Early Classical, Charioteer from Delphi, ca. 470 B.C.E.

Early Classical, Zeus or Poseidon, ca. 460-450 B.C.E.   

Early Classical, Myron, Diskobolos, ca. 450 B.C.E.

Early Classical, Polykleitos, Doryphoros, ca. 450-440 B.C.E.


High Classical

The Periclean Building Program on the Acropolis of Athens

 

High Classical, Mnesikles, Propylaia, Acropolis, Athens, 437-432 B.C.E.
High Classical, Mnesikles, Propylaia, Acropolis, Athens, 437-432 B.C.E.

 

High Classical, Iktinos and Kallikrates, Parthenon, Athens, Greece, 447-438 B.C.E.
 High Classical, Lapith and Centaur, Parthenon metope sculpture, 447-438 B.C.E.
High Classical, Three goddesses, pediment of the Parthenon, 438-432 B.C.E.
High Classical, Details of the Panathenaic Festival procession frieze, ca. 447-438 B.C.E.


High Classical, Erechtheion, Acropolis, Athens, ca. 421-405 B.C.E.
High Classical, Erechtheion, Porch of the Maidens, Acropolis, Athens, 421-405 B.C.E.

High Classical, Temple of Athena Nike, Acropolis, Athens, ca. 427-424 B.C.E.
High Classical, Nike adjusting her sandal, from the Temple of Athena Nike, ca. 410 B.C.E.

Late Classical — 400-323 B.C.

Sculpture

Late Classical, Praxiteles, Aphrodite of Knidos, ca. 350-340 B.C.E.

Late Classical, Praxiteles, Hermes and infant Dionysos, ca. 340 B.C.E.

Late Classical, Lysippos, Apoxyomenos (Scraper), ca. 330 B.C.E.

Late Classical, Lysippos, Weary Herakles (Farnese Herakles), ca. 320 B.C.E.


Mosaics

Late Classical, Philoxenos of Eretria, Battle of Issus, ca. 310 B.C.E.

Vocabulary

Phidias
triglyph
Polykleitos
Pericles
Poseidon
encaustic
Myron
entasis
cella
Dionysos
Praxiteles
amphora
Alexander the Great
volute
Kylix
Aphrodite
Exekias
centaur
Iktinos and Kallikrates
Athena
architrave
caryatid
pediment
tesserae
anastole

Practice Essay Questions

  • Why is the Parthenon considered to be the most significant and influential Greek building?

  • Compare the structure and function of Egyptian temples with those of Greek temples. Be sure to cite specific examples to illustrate your discussion.

  • Discuss the development of the standing male nude in Greek sculpture. Note particularly the changing proportions, the depiction of motion, and the conception of the figure in space. Cite specific examples to illustrate your discussion.

  • In what ways did Greek architects progressively refine the structure of their temples, and what may have been their purpose? What refinements of the Parthenon bring this development to its height?

  • Select a single piece of sculpture that you believe best reflects the stylistic principles of Greek art from the Classical period. Describe the principles and how the work reflects them.