Classical and Classical and Hellenistic GreeceHellenistic Greece

The Classical PeriodThe Classical Period

Opens with GreeksOpens with Greeks’’ victory over Persians victory over Persians at Salamis in 490 B.C.E.at Salamis in 490 B.C.E.Golden Age: 480 B.C.E. and 404 B.C.E., Golden Age: 480 B.C.E. and 404 B.C.E., Athens was defeated in the Peloponnesian Athens was defeated in the Peloponnesian Wars. Culture lasted until death of Wars. Culture lasted until death of Alexander the Great.Alexander the Great.Polis life: Human nature dictates life in the Polis life: Human nature dictates life in the citycityPerikles: Delian LeaguePerikles: Delian League

Women in Classical AthensWomen in Classical Athens

Excluded from public affairsExcluded from public affairs

Household duties: organization, Household duties: organization, supervision and labor.supervision and labor.

Hetaera: Hetaera: foreign women who worked as foreign women who worked as courtesans, entertainers and prostitutes.courtesans, entertainers and prostitutes.

Some Some hetaera hetaera highly educatedhighly educated

The Greek TempleThe Greek Temple

Greek Orders of columns: Doric, Ionic, Greek Orders of columns: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthianand Corinthian

Entablature: section above columns Entablature: section above columns where a decorative where a decorative frieze frieze may be locatedmay be located

Pediment: triangular section at one end Pediment: triangular section at one end of roofof roof

Cella: room inside templeCella: room inside temple

The AcropolisThe Acropolis

PropylaeaPropylaea: massive gateway: massive gatewayErechtheionErechtheion: Ionic temple with two : Ionic temple with two porches – the south side is called the porches – the south side is called the Porch of the MaidensPorch of the Maidens, which has columns , which has columns that are female figures (caryatids).that are female figures (caryatids).Temple of Athena NikeTemple of Athena Nike: miniature temple : miniature temple surroundd by a wall depicting Athena surroundd by a wall depicting Athena preparing for a victory celebration preparing for a victory celebration ParthenonParthenon

The ParthenonThe Parthenon

Built by Perikles with funds intended for Built by Perikles with funds intended for the defense of Athensthe defense of Athens

Architects Iktinos and KallicratesArchitects Iktinos and Kallicrates

Dedicated to AthenaDedicated to Athena

Refinements (deviations from absolute Refinements (deviations from absolute regularity): based on regularity): based on Golden SectionGolden Section, , steps and entablature curved upward, steps and entablature curved upward, columns have columns have entasis entasis

Parthenon SculpturesParthenon Sculptures

Phideas sculpted an Ivory and gold statue Phideas sculpted an Ivory and gold statue of Athena insideof Athena inside

Three Goddesses on East PedimentThree Goddesses on East Pediment

West Pediment: battle between Athena West Pediment: battle between Athena and Poseidon for Atticaand Poseidon for Attica

Friezes: Friezes: Battle Between the Lapiths and Battle Between the Lapiths and CentaursCentaurs and the and the Pan-Athenaic Pan-Athenaic ProcessionProcession

Classical HumanismClassical Humanism

Belief that Belief that ““Man is the Measure of All Man is the Measure of All ThingsThings”” – Protagoras. – Protagoras.

Nobility of human intelligence and actionNobility of human intelligence and action

Human ability to understand and control Human ability to understand and control the world.the world.

““SecularSecular”” humanism controversial today. humanism controversial today.

The Greek Classical Style in ArtThe Greek Classical Style in Art

Classical Style: naturalism and idealismClassical Style: naturalism and idealism

Representing the human figure in motion: Representing the human figure in motion: turning point for Greek sculptorsturning point for Greek sculptors

Idealized, yet moving toward naturalismIdealized, yet moving toward naturalism

Contrapposto or Contrapposto or ““SS”” curve to figure curve to figure

Greek Classical SculptureGreek Classical Sculpture

Kritios BoyKritios Boy: Human figure in motion (fig. : Human figure in motion (fig. 3.10)3.10)

The The Doryphoros,Doryphoros, by Polykleitos of Argos by Polykleitos of Argos (fig. 3.11)(fig. 3.11)

MyronMyron’’s s Discobolus Discobolus (fig. 3.13)(fig. 3.13)

Apoxymenos, by Lysippos Apoxymenos, by Lysippos (fig. 3.14)(fig. 3.14)

PraxitelesPraxiteles’’ Aphrodite of Knidos Aphrodite of Knidos (fig. 3.13)(fig. 3.13)

Greek TheaterGreek Theater

Athens: Greek TheaterAthens: Greek Theater

Developed from celebrations honoring Developed from celebrations honoring Dionysus, god of wine and fertilityDionysus, god of wine and fertility

Themes:Themes:1.1. Power of the godsPower of the gods

2.2. Course of human destinyCourse of human destiny

3.3. The nature of love and justiceThe nature of love and justice

Greek TragedyGreek Tragedy

Open-air theaters or amphitheatersOpen-air theaters or amphitheatersWealthy citizens paid playwrights and Wealthy citizens paid playwrights and producersproducersYearly competitionYearly competitionActors in front of the Actors in front of the skeneskeneChorus: actors who danced and chanted Chorus: actors who danced and chanted on the on the orchestraorchestra, the area surrounded by , the area surrounded by the the theatrontheatron

Greek Tragic PlaywrightsGreek Tragic Playwrights

Thespis: one actor separate from the Thespis: one actor separate from the choruschorusAeschylus: added a second actor and Aeschylus: added a second actor and dialogue. Wrote a trilogy called the dialogue. Wrote a trilogy called the Oresteia.Oresteia.Sophocles: Golden Age of Athens, Sophocles: Golden Age of Athens, focused on individual human concerns. focused on individual human concerns. One of his most famous plays is One of his most famous plays is Oedipus Oedipus the Kingthe King..

Greek Tragic Playwrights (conGreek Tragic Playwrights (con’’t.)t.)

Euripides: noted for realism, social Euripides: noted for realism, social commentary, showed people as they commentary, showed people as they were, gripped by violent passions. An were, gripped by violent passions. An example of his work is the play example of his work is the play The The BacchaeBacchae..

Greek ComedyGreek Comedy

Humorous portrayal of everyday themes Humorous portrayal of everyday themes and characters.and characters.

Sometimes quite ribaldSometimes quite ribald

Aristophanes: satirized politics and Aristophanes: satirized politics and political personalities. political personalities. Lysistrata Lysistrata is one of is one of his noted works.his noted works.

Greek PhilosophyGreek Philosophy

Philosophy: came from GreekPhilosophy: came from Greek’’s s fascination with rational inquiry.fascination with rational inquiry.Materialists: substance of which all matter Materialists: substance of which all matter was composedwas composedIdealists: evidence of a divine and rational Idealists: evidence of a divine and rational plan for cosmos--Pythagorasplan for cosmos--PythagorasSophists: professional teachers, skepticsSophists: professional teachers, skeptics—Protagoras. Became cynical.—Protagoras. Became cynical.

SocratesSocrates

Founded classical Greek philosophy and Founded classical Greek philosophy and never wrote a word.never wrote a word.Socratic MethodSocratic MethodGadfly of Athens – morals worth more Gadfly of Athens – morals worth more than life itself.than life itself.““The unexamined life is not worth living.The unexamined life is not worth living.””Trial and death: tried for religious and Trial and death: tried for religious and moral offenses.moral offenses.

PlatoPlato

Student of SocratesStudent of Socrates

Wrote SocratesWrote Socrates’’ dialogues dialogues

ApologyApology: Socrates: Socrates’’ trial trial

Phaedo: Phaedo: SocratesSocrates’’ last conversation last conversation

The Republic: The Republic: ideal city-state/ three parts ideal city-state/ three parts of soul: reason, moral courage, appetitesof soul: reason, moral courage, appetites

The AcademyThe Academy

AristotleAristotle

Challenged PlatoChallenged Plato’’s teachingss teachings

Tutor for Alexander of MacedoniaTutor for Alexander of Macedonia

EthicsEthics:Happiness is found in balance :Happiness is found in balance between two extremes: Golden Meanbetween two extremes: Golden Mean

PoeticsPoetics: Formal pattern of Greek drama.: Formal pattern of Greek drama.

LyceumLyceum

Aristotle and Plato ContrastedAristotle and Plato Contrasted

1.1. Plato separated Plato separated Ideal FormsIdeal Forms from from material things. material things.

2.2. Plato made Plato made universals primary universals primary and particulars and particulars secondary.secondary.

3.3. Plato emphasized Plato emphasized BeingBeing over over Becoming.Becoming.

1.1. Aristotle insisted on Aristotle insisted on the inseparability of the inseparability of form and matter.form and matter.

2.2. Aristotle made Aristotle made particulars primary particulars primary and universals and universals secondary.secondary.

3.3. Aristotle emphasized Aristotle emphasized BecomingBecoming over over Being.Being.

Aristotle and Plato ContrastedAristotle and Plato Contrasted

4.4. Plato celebrated Plato celebrated mathematics as the mathematics as the model of pure thought.model of pure thought.

5.5. PlatoPlato’’s philosophy s philosophy emphasized stasis.emphasized stasis.

6.6. For Plato the highest For Plato the highest form of knowledge was form of knowledge was knowledge of the pure knowledge of the pure FormsForms or or IdealsIdeals – – Platonic IdealismPlatonic Idealism..

4. Aristotle grounded his 4. Aristotle grounded his philosophical system in philosophical system in biology.biology.

5.5. AristotleAristotle’’s philosophy s philosophy emphasized growth and emphasized growth and development.development.

6.6. For Aristotle, knowledge For Aristotle, knowledge was grounded in was grounded in empirical reality – empirical reality – Aristotelian EmpiricismAristotelian Empiricism..

Aristotle and Plato ContrastedAristotle and Plato Contrasted

7.7. Plato Plato’’s philosophy s philosophy tended toward the tended toward the transcendental.transcendental.

8.8. Plato favored intuition Plato favored intuition over logic.over logic.

9.9. Plato used reason to Plato used reason to overcome the physical overcome the physical world.world.

10.10. Plato Plato’’s philosophy s philosophy influenced Augustineinfluenced Augustine’’s s theology.theology.

7.7. Aristotle Aristotle’’s philosophy s philosophy was directed toward the was directed toward the immanent.immanent.

8.8. Aristotle made logic the Aristotle made logic the basis of his philosophy.basis of his philosophy.

9.9. Aristotle used reason to Aristotle used reason to discover the order of the discover the order of the world.world.

10.10. Aristotle Aristotle’’s philosophy s philosophy influenced Aquinasinfluenced Aquinas’’ theology.theology.

Greek MusicGreek Music

Music: of the Music: of the ““MusesMuses”” Goddesses who Goddesses who inspired creative arts.inspired creative arts.

LyreLyre

AulosAulos

Music could bring about feelings through Music could bring about feelings through modesmodes

Music lost foreverMusic lost forever

PythagorasPythagoras’’ intervals: octaves intervals: octaves

Hellenistic StyleHellenistic Style

Emotionally charged realism of later Greek Emotionally charged realism of later Greek sculpturesculpture

Alexander the Great – Persia and EgyptAlexander the Great – Persia and Egypt

IndividualityIndividuality

Examples: Examples: Battle of the Gods and GiantsBattle of the Gods and Giants (fig. 3.22), (fig. 3.22), Nike of SamothraceNike of Samothrace (fig. 3.24) (fig. 3.24) and and LaocoLaocoöön and His Sonsn and His Sons (fig. 3.25) (fig. 3.25)

Hellenistic AgeHellenistic Age

Philip of Macedon subdued Greek city-Philip of Macedon subdued Greek city-states. Succeeded by son Alexanderstates. Succeeded by son Alexander

Alexander loved Greek civilization and Alexander loved Greek civilization and spread it throughout his empire in Persia spread it throughout his empire in Persia and Egyptand Egypt

Hellenistic: Greek-likeHellenistic: Greek-like

Hellenistic LegacyHellenistic Legacy

Collected great classical manuscripts in Collected great classical manuscripts in libraries.libraries.

Artists imitated forms and ideas of the Artists imitated forms and ideas of the Greeks.Greeks.

Playwrights copied Greek theaterPlaywrights copied Greek theater

Euclid: Planets revolve around the sunEuclid: Planets revolve around the sun

Established Greek culture as the standard.Established Greek culture as the standard.