Ancient Greece Flashcards
Define the Greek Geometric Style (pottery).
A style of painted pot from the Geometric Period (900–700 BCE) dominated by abstract motifs (e.g., the meander pattern) and animals conveyed through black slip.
Define the Greek Black Figure Style (pottery).
A style of painted pot from the Archaic Period (600–480 BCE) in which figures and forms are created through the application of black slip before firing.
Define the Greek Red Figure Style (pottery).
A style of painted pot from the Archaic Period (600–480 BCE) in which figures and forms are created through the absence of black slip, allowing the red of the terracotta to come through for greater design detail and finesse; appeared late sixth century BCE.
Define the Greek White Ground Style (pottery).
A style of painted pot from the Archaic Period (600–480 BCE) in which figures and forms are painted on white clay pot, allowing for greater detail and polychromy; also appeared in the late sixth century BCE.
Define Humanism.
The idea that humans were the “measure of all things.” The perfect individual form, defined by ideal scale and proportions. This became the Greek ideal.
Sculptures: figural treatment and anatomical proportion
Architecture: human experience and ideal scale/proportions measured by the human body
What is Contrapposto?
Posing of the human figure in which one part is turned in opposition to the other part, typically with the weight of the body being thrown to one foot. This creates a counterbalance of the body through the central axis.
What is so special about Palace of Knossos? And what myths are there about it?
Built as a labyrinth, 1500 rooms, evolved organically around a central courtyard. Birthplace of the Minotaur myth.
What is the geographic and architectural makeup of the Minoan civilization?
On island of Crete. Used bronze for tools and weapons. Cities were not fortified, no walled cities, disappeared suddenly – huge earthquake and tsunami.
Describe the Mycenean civilization.
Dozens of small independent city-states, heavily fortified cities on defensible hilltops. Walls of enormous stones. Depictions of hunt & battle scenes in art, burials of many types.
True or false. The Mask of Agamemnon is a mask of Agmemnon.
False. Not actually Agamemnon, actually a mask of a guy from the trojan war. Fastened to the face of the deceased. Hammered down, then hammered onto wooden mold.
What is a citadel?
A fort in a city, used for its defense. People could flee to shelter there during battle.
Compare and contrast the Treasury of Atreus and the Lion Gate.
LIONGATE: Entrance gateway to mycenae. Cyclopean walls, stonework built with massive irregular stone blocks. Corbeled arch. Triangular stone with relief of two lions, two altars, and minoan style column.
ATREUS: Corbeled vault, 33 courses of ashlar stone, stabilized by earthen mound above. Example of a Tholos or circular tomb (“beehive” tomb).
Define the characteristics of high classical greek art.
Attempted perfection and idealization of the human body and figure, not the individual.
Beauty = Proportions of the body based on mathematical harmonies. Relationship between tension and relaxation.
Define the characteristics of Archaic greek art.
More and more natural and rounded, less blocky. Archaic smile: a tight, mannequin-like facial expression. Not a representation of a specific individual, but a reference to an individual with an idealized human body. USES: grave marker, offering to god, or… A god.
Differences between Doric, Ionic, and Corintian
Doric - simple with a fluted shaft.
Ionic - decorative scrolls.
Corinthian - ornate and complex.
