Abstract This paper provides a discussion of the long tradition of the influence of ancient Egyptian art on ancient Greek artists. The paper looks at how the art of both are affected by their societies' world views. The paper discusses the primary functions of Egyptian art and the different style of Greekart, particularly in relation to depiction of figures.
From the Paper "This paper compares ancient Egyptian art with ancient Greek art and considers the ways in which the Greeks were influenced by Egyptian art. Egypt established a long and enduring artistic tradition. Greek art drew heavily on that background, using many of the same kinds of subjects and incorporating many similar symbols but then reinterpreted them through very different eyes and a strikingly different cultural perception. Both visions continue to have a profound impact on artists in modern cultures from their representation of everyday life to the varied..."
Abstract This paper briefly examines the history of ancient Greekart. It focuses on several periods - Archaic Period, Early Classical Period, Golden Age, Late Classical Period and Hellenistic Period. Different types of art forms are discussed and examined how they developed during these periods. The influence of other cultures on Greekart is also analyzed, namely Middle Eastern and Egyptian.
Outline
I. Introduction
A. History
B. Cultural influence
II. Archaic Period (600-480 B.C.)
A. Egyptian influence
B. Middle Eastern influence
III. Early Classical Period (480-450 B.C.)
A. New humanism led to balanced human form
B. Marble and bronze figurines
IV. Golden Age (450-400 B.C.)
A. Temples of the Athenian acropolis
B. Parthenon sculptures
V. Late Classical Period (400-300 B.C.
A. Expression of emotion
B. Individualization and three-dimensional movement
VI. Hellenistic Period (323-31 B.C.)
A. Nike and Aphrodite
B. Terra-cotta figurines
VII. Conclusion
A. Importance of masterpiece copies
B. Influence of Greek culture
From the Paper "The earlier great cultures of Egypt and the Near East were making art long before the Greeks and much of the early Greek art looks Egyptian, with its stiff and profiled poses and boxy geometric designs. Moreover, the Greeks borrowed the ideas, motifs, conventions, and skills from these earlier civilizations (Tansy 1996). However, it was the Greeks who made the leap into naturalism and in their representations of the human body created an ideal of perfectly balanced proportions that has never been improved upon. Although, we often speak of Greek and Roman in the same breath, the greatest accomplishments of Greek art were five centuries old by the time the Romans began to copy them. "
Abstract Ancient Greekart, architecture, and sculpture have fascinated spectators ever since their discovery. However, while the uninformed viewer might perceive of ancient Greekart, architecture, and sculpture as forming a single period in art history, marked by different styles, art historians have divided it into distinct periods. The paper looks at each of these periods: the Geometric, the Orientalizing, the Archaic, and the Classical, which are explained in terms of how differing philosophical beliefs, historical event,s and cultural developments impacted art, creating different and distinct styles. In specific reference to sculptures, the paper shows that the different styles characterizing each period express different artistic aims as regards to representation of the human body.
From the Paper "In direct contrast to this archaic statue is a classical one on the east pediment of the same temple. It is calculated that only about a decade separates these two works but, artistically speaking, ages separate them in terms of development of style and form. In this statue, also of a dying warrior, the figure "reacts to his wound as would a flesh-and-blood human. He knows that death is inevitable, but he still struggles to rise once again. And he does not look out at the spectator. He is concerned with his pain, not with us" (Tansey and Kleiner 139). This is definitely a much more realistic picture of a man who is dying from a painful wound."
Abstract This paper examines the representation of gods in Greekart, and the very rigid patterns and canons that had been imposed by the masters of the past. The paper holds that those rules were followed religiously by art pupils, who learned the crafts to continue traditions. This is one reason why artistic representations of gods and goddesses show very similar features and obey to the same anatomical rules of body structure and proportion. The Greeks believed that the gods were perfect and their goal was to represent this perfection by finding the key to flawless harmony of features and lines. The paper argues that this created some troubles in representing a vast range of deities, since they all looked alike for following the same anatomical rules. The paper concludes that Greek representations of gods or heroes usually present only the best part of those characters, even if sometimes placed in human positions, with weaknesses, adversities and frustrations.
From the Paper "In Greek mythology Aphrodite was the goddess of love, lust, beauty and femininity. Although modern culture often refers to her as 'the goddess of love' it is important to state that ancient Greek conception of love was different from our days. The spiritual, romantic meaning of love, given by Christianity, is not what her power refers to. She is the goddess of sexual love."
Abstract This paper contends that for ancient Greeks, perfection existed in the natural world, a world that had been created by the gods. It explains the task of the artists, therefore, was not to improve on nature, but to attempt to capture and preserve the beauty that surrounded them. It highlights that this basic philosophy informed all genres of Greekart during the classical era and was especially evident in Greek sculpture.
From the Paper "For Greeks, perfection existed in the natural world, a world that had been created by the gods who were themselves perfect and who had imbued the world with a harmony that was just and right. The world was in and of itself perfect and the task of the artist was ..."
Abstract This paper briefly looks at Greekart and architecture to determine the relationship between them and broad cultural and/or philosophical currents animating Greek society and culture. Specifically, this paper examines the relationship of the Greek concept of the "golden mean" to art and architecture in the classical world and suggests that there are interesting manifestations of the Golden Mean in Greekart and architecture.
From the Paper "The culture and beliefs of the ancient Greeks clearly manifested themselves in the artwork they produced. This paper examines the relationship of the "Golden Mean" to the art and architecture of the Greeks. What should become apparent is that the "Golden Mean" - which in the world of art meant an emphasis upon harmony, balance, symmetry and austere beauty - was an animating factor in the vase work and architecture of the Greeks. This paper examines the above-mentioned relationship by looking first at examples of the "Golden Mean" in Greek pottery. From there, the paper examines the presence of the "Golden Mean" in Greek architecture. Specifically, because of its pre-eminent place in the architecture of the ancient world, special attention is devoted to the design of the Parthenon."
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses that Greekart and its relationship with the modern world cannot be stressed enough, for it could be said that ancient Greece and even the modern Greek nation would be unrecognizable if it was not for Greekart, which over the last two thousand years has come to symbolize Greek culture. The writer points out that several examples stand out like the Jefferson Memorial and the US Capital, both designed by adopting the architectural styles of the ancient Greeks. The writer notes that the role of the city of Athens is also highly important, especially related to the Parthenon, as is the literature created by a number of Greek writers. The writer maintains that in essence, without the genius of the ancient Greeks, the physicality of our modern world would not be the same.
Outline:
Abstract
GreekArt: Historical and Cultural Influences
From the Paper "Of course, the history of ancient Greek art is inseparable from the city of Athens, where our modern principles of democracy emerged around 400 B.C.E. and which has become the penultimate symbol of Greek culture, especially related to the Parthenon atop the Acropolis which still stands today as the quintessential icon of ancient Greek architecture. It was here in Athens that some of the finest products of Greek civilization were created by Athenians, such as Phidias, one of the greatest sculptors of all time and responsible for the creation and overall design of the Parthenon.
"Also, modern-day Western society and the nation of Greece owe much to the writers who created the great Greek tragic plays, such as Aeschylus and Sophocles whose plays were ... "
Abstract This paper reviews the stylistic connections among Roman, Greek and Etruscan art, brought about by the many historical, political, cultural and economic correlations that existed among these three ancient societies. It focuses on the ways in which the art of the Roman Republic combined elements of both Etruscan and Greekart. The author discusses the distinctions between the art of these three societies.
From the Paper "There are clear stylistic connections among Roman, Greek and Etruscan art a point that should hardly surprise us given the many historical, political, cultural and economic connections that existed among these three ancient societies. But there are also as ..."
Tags: humanism, proportion, Estruscan, Greek, Roman
Abstract This paper explores the styles of ancient Greekart and the depiction of mythological and heroic images in art. The paper devotes time to describing the Mykonos amphora, the combination of scenes that depicts acts of Greek brutality and violence. The paper also describes many other pieces of pottery and art that are representations of the Trojan War's climactic events and discusses the tendency to merge together disparate episodes of the Iliad narrative. The writer opines that the images and depictions found on a great variety of ancient Greek pottery provide a fascinating glimpse into the cultural and artistic world of one of the first societies to practice democracy and to explain the natural world in scientific terms.
From the Paper "In essence, the oral history of the Trojan War has come down to us through the epic poem the Iliad by the Greek poet Homer who composed this famous account of the conflict between the Trojans and the Greeks sometime during the 8th century BCE and the Ilioupersis ("The Sack of Ilion") by Arktinos of Miletos which survives only in a few ancient references (Magrath, 2002). The basic tale of the Trojan War relates events that allegedly occurred some five hundred years prior to the writing of the Iliad and the Ilioupersis, circa the 13th century BCE during the Mycenaean Period in ancient Greece."
Tags: Trojan, War, Mykonos, amphora, Achaeans, Helen, Menelaus, Cassandra, Astyanax
Abstract This paper discusses the basic themes of Greek artistic endeavors, such as individualism, rationalism, and humanism, and analyzes how Greekart, architecture, and literature reflected the society in which they were created.
Abstract Discusses the Geometric period, the Early Classical period, and the Hellenistic period in relation to Greekart. The paper looks at art based on the idea of changeless absolutes and ideals and the "Geometric Krater" as an example of the style of the Geometric period.
From the Paper "The artworks of a given era reflect the formalist, social, and economic realities of the period, exemplifying the prevailing artistic styles and the social and economic structures which influence the arts. Artworks from three periods of Greek art- ..."
Abstract The paper analyzes the artifacts found from the Cyclades sites and pottery from the same region. The paper describes how the style of the Cyclades statuettes fits with other works from different parts of the near east and shows how it influenced later classical Greek and Roman sculpture. The paper discusses the many shifts in aesthetic viewpoint in this century, when art was redefined in terms of the existing social relations and prevalent aesthetic ideas. The paper also looks at the geometric style in Greece and the relationship of art, mathematics and computer technology today.
From the Paper "The Cyclades are a group of islands in the Aegean Sea where neolithic burial sites have been found. The figurines found tend to be stylized and abstract in form (Fiero 8). The clay figurines in this culture are in place of the neolithic idols made of clay from other regions. The marble quarried on these islands made it possible for the workshops of the culture to flourish. Products made by artisans on the Cyclades made their way to Crete and also to the mainland. Most of the statuettes are naked female figurines with their arms crossed over the abdomen, and they are generally not designed to stand erect."
Abstract This paper presents an examination of the military strategy employed by the Greek and Persian armies during Xerxes' invasion of Greece in the 4th century BC. Sun Tzu's 'Art of War' is used as the basis for analysis and critique of the strategies employed by both sides. The paper discusses two major battles during the invasion- Thermopylae and Plataea.
From the Paper "More than two thousand years ago, a Chinese strategist known as Sun Tzu wrote one of the enduring classics of military theory. Most likely written during a period of Chinese history referred to as the 'Warring States' period, Sun Tzu's The Art of War has continued to be studied by military strategists for millennia. Even today, The Art of War is required reading for Naval Officer Candidates. At nearly the same time in the fourth century B.C., the Greek city-states were facing invasion from the mighty Persian army. Vastly outnumbered, the Greeks eventually triumphed by defeating their enemies at Plataea, but not before fighting one of history's greatest military stands at Thermopylae. By using Sun Tzu's classic text to analyze the battles of Thermopylae and Plataea, it is possible to gain a better understanding not only of the battles themselves, but also of the reasons why The Art of War has remained such an influential and respected text over the centuries."
Abstract This paper attempts to provide a clear picture of the humanistic world of the ancient Greeks. It looks at how the humanistic attitudes of the ancient Greeks, where the individual was of prime importance, contrasts sharply with many other ancient cultures and civilizations. It examines how classic Greekart and literature, illustrated by examples such as as the "Nike of Samothrace" and Homer's "Odyssey", illuminate not only the ancient Greeks themselves but also our modern age. It shows how it was from the Greeks that art and culture truly emerged, with its respect for beauty and simplicity, the physical concepts of nature and the humanistic view of man.
From the Paper "A later work of Hellenistic sculpture is the Laocoon group, which shows the Trojan priest Laocoon and his sons being strangled by sea serpents, due to Laocoon's defiance of the Greek god Apollo (others say he offended Poseidon by warning the Trojans about the Trojan horse). The spectacular torment of Laocoon and his sons is presented with all the devices of realism--the torturous poses, straining muscles and swelling veins. This piece, according to Pliny, the Roman scholar, was fashioned by Athanadoros, Agesander and Polydoros, three sculptors from the Greek island of Rhodes, famous for the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world."
Abstract The paper reviews a few noteworthy pieces of art that brilliantly highlight the differences between Greek and Roman society especially, Greek society, and Egyptian and Mesopotamian society. The paper particularly looks at the way that the human figure is depicted in art works from the different areas.
From the Paper "Glorification of the Individual, Glorification of the Gods and Society: the Artistic Differences between Greek/Roman and Egyptian/Mesopotamian Art The Greek (and later Roman) approach to art may be defined as classical or realist in nature. By comparison, the Ancient Egyptian The precise lineaments of Standing Goddess, probably Artemis, also reveal the classical preoccupation with the human form. However, it is Portrait of a Ruler (a work possibly crafted by Elagabalus) which really underscores the profound difference between Classical and Egyptian artwork. To wit, the anthropomorphic rendering of the body is not only anatomically correct, but built perfectly to scale. Everything, from the fingers of the upraised right hand to the slight protuberance on the right side of the model where the hipbone juts out ever so slightly, reveals a remarkable attention to the human form."
