Art of Rising Civilizations

164 3 ART OF RISING CIVILIZATIONS our journey through time and space con- Y tinues in this unit, where you will learn about the arts of ancient Greece and Rome. The small painting shown here was created by an unknown Roman artist. It once graced a wall of a house in Herculaneum—a city destroyed by a volcanic eruption in A.D. 79. Web Museum Tour The Classical Collection at the North Carolina Museum of Art Web site guides you through Greek and Roman antiquities, including ancient Roman wall paintings and virtual 3D views of a Greek amphora. Follow the link to Web Museum Tours at art.glencoe.com. Activity Browse the Classical section and then choose one Greek or Roman piece in the collection. After examining the artwork, describe it and analyze the artist’s use of elements and principles. What feeling or idea do you think the artist was trying to communicate? Still Life with Peaches and Glass Vase. Roman fresco from Herculaneum. c. A.D. 50. Museo Nazionale, Naples, Italy. Scala/Art Resource, NY. 165 8 greek art hat do you know about the arts and artists of ancient Greece? What W did you learn about Greece when the Olympics were recently held in Athens? Why do historians place so much importance on events that hap- pened over 3,000 years ago on a dry, stony peninsula in southeastern Europe? The answer to the last question is simple: it was on that peninsula, in Greece, that Western civilization was born. The contributions of Greek civilization to the arts and sciences have influenced humans for centuries. These contributions continue to enrich our lives today. Read to Find Out Read this chapter to find out what is important about the art of ancient Greece. Ask yourself how the Greek civilization added to the art and architecture of the world. Learn how Greek sculp- ture changed and evolved over time. Focus Activity Examine the Greek temple shown in Figure 8.1. What details can you find out about it? Why do you think this building contin- ues to be admired today? Do you think the use of sculptures in place of columns adds to the building’s visual appeal? Why or why not? Using the Time Line Greek art is grouped into one of four periods, each with its own style. Notice where the temple appears on the Time Line. It was built during Greece’s Classical period. As you read the chapter, identify characteristics of art in each period of Greek history. What features in Figure 8.1 are characteristic of the Classical period? 450–322 B.C. Socrates, 776 B.C. Plato, and The first Aristotle 900–700 B.C. c. 800 B.C. Olympic c. 450 B.C. develop Earliest Greek vases Homer writes the Games are c. 600 B.C. Myron philosophical are displayed with Greek epic poems held in Geometric patterns sculpts the concepts geometric patterns Iliad and Odyssey Athens continue to appear Discobolus 1000 B.C. 900 B.C. 800 B.C. 700 B.C. 600 B.C. 500 B.C. 900–700 B.C. 600–480 B.C. Geometric Period Archaic Period 166 ■ FIGURE 8.1 Porch of the Maidens. 421–405 B.C. Erechtheum, Acropolis, Athens, Greece. Scala /Art Resource, NY. 405 B.C. Athenian Empire is destroyed 323 B.C. c. 240 B.C. c. 50 B.C. 421 B.C. Euclid describes Dying Gaul An unknown Work begins Pythagorean theorem shows features artist creates on the in Elements of of the Hellenistic Seated Boxer in Erechtheum Geometry style bronze Refer to the Time Line on page H11 in your Art Handbook for more 400 B.C. 300 B.C. 200 B.C. 100 B.C.0 B.C. about this period. 480–300 B.C. 300–146 B.C. Classical Period Hellenistic Period 167 LESSON ONE The Birthplace of Western Civilization Vocabulary he history of ancient Greece begins around 2000 B.C. At that time ■ raking cornice ■ entablature T the earliest people probably entered the land. The descendants of ■ cornice ■ column these primitive peoples remained there, and in about 500 years a strong ■ frieze ■ colonnade culture known as the Mycenaean had formed. However, the power of the ■ lintel ■ Doric order Mycenaeans eventually gave way to that of a stronger people. ■ capital ■ Ionic order ■ shaft ■ Corinthian After a series of invasions, the warlike Dorians took over the land in ■ stylobate order about 1100 B.C. This event changed the way of life in many areas as the ■ pediment conquerors mingled with the native populations. Towns eventually grew into small, independent city-states. Unlike many other civilizations, which Artist to Meet developed as collections of city-states that formed kingdoms or empires, ■ Exekias the Greek city-states remained fiercely independent. The independence of Greek city-states can be accounted for, at least in Discover part, by geography. Greece is divided by mountains, valleys, and the sea. After completing this lesson, (See map, Figure 8.2.) These physical separations made communication you will be able to: difficult. In addition to these natural barriers, social barriers of local pride ■ Identify the contributions of the ancient Greeks to the history and jealousy also divided the city-states. These factors combined to keep of art. the Greek city-states from uniting to form a nation. ■ Describe the three orders of decorative style that originated in Greece. History of Greek City-States There was continuing rivalry among the city- states, but none ever succeeded in conquering the Greece 600 B.C. others. The rivalry was so intense that the city-states 20°E3525°E 30°E °E could not even agree to work together toward N common goals. Fear alone finally united them long W E S Black enough to fight off invaders from Persia during the Sea fifth century B.C. Suspecting further invasions by the Persians, several Hellespont Byzantium city-states joined together to form a defensive alliance. ASIA MINOR GREECE Troy This alliance came to be known as the Delian League Aegean because its treasury was kept on the island of Delos. Sea Athens Byblos The larger cities contributed ships and men to this A I Sparta C alliance, while the smaller cities gave money. Cyprus I N Because it was the most powerful member of the Crete Tyre E O Delian League, Athens was made its permanent H Cyrene P head. Athenian representatives were put in charge of N i l the fleet and were authorized to collect money for e EGYPT R i v Red the treasury. e r Sea Pericles, the Athenian leader, moved the treasury from Delos to Athens. Before long, Pericles began to MAP SKILLS use the Delian League’s money to rebuild and beautify ■ FIGURE 8.2 The Greek city-states were separated from each Athens, which had been badly damaged by the other by mountains, valleys, and the sea. How do you think these separations affected interactions between the city-states? Persian invaders. 168 The Peloponnesian War and the destiny of every person on Earth. The The greatness of Athens was not destined highest goal for the Greeks was doing what to last long. Pericles’ actions were bitterly the gods wanted them to do. As a result, for- resented by the other members of the Delian tune tellers and omens, which helped people League, especially Sparta and Corinth. Finally, discover the will of the gods, were important parts of religious practice. in 431 B.C., this resentment led to the Pelopon- nesian War. At first, Pericles successfully withstood the challenge of Sparta and the Early Greek Temples other city-states, but in 430 B.C. a terrible The earliest Greek temples were made of plague killed a third of the Athenian popula- wood or brick, and these have since disap- tion. A year later, Pericles himself was a peared. As the economy prospered with the victim of this plague. With the death of its growth of trade, stone was used. Limestone leader, Athens was doomed. and finally marble became the favorite build- After Athens was defeated, a century of ing materials. conflict followed. One city-state, then another The basic design of Greek temples did not gained the upper hand. This conflict so weak- change over the centuries. Greek builders chose ened the city-states that they were helpless not to alter a design that served their needs and before foreign invaders. In 338 B.C., Greece was also pleasing to the eye. Instead, they made was conquered by Macedonia. small improvements on the basic design in Despite a history of rivalry, wars, and inva- order to achieve perfection. Proof that they real- sions, the Greek people made many important ized this perfection is represented in temples contributions to art. Their accomplishments such as the Parthenon. (See Figure 8.1, page in architecture, particularly temple architec- 166 and Figure 8.3.) It was built as a house for ture, were among their most enduring legacies Athena, the goddess of wisdom and guardian of to Western civilization. the city named in her honor. Greek Architecture The Parthenon The Greeks considered their temples ■ FIGURE 8.3 dwelling places for the gods, who looked— In 447 B.C., using funds from the treasury and often acted—like humans. The Greeks of the Delian League, Pericles ordered work believed that the gods controlled the universe to begin on the Parthenon. Ten years later the ■ FIGURE 8.3 Greek architects used the post- and-lintel method of con- struction. Identify the posts and lintels in this temple. How would you describe the overall balance of this building? What adjective best describes this temple? The Parthenon, Acropolis, Athens, Greece.

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