the birthplace of Western Civilization * The Western Civilization is characterized by a host of artistic, philosophic, literary, and legal themes and traditions having origins of European traditions. http://Life as an Ancient Greek Teenager! Horrible Histories - Ancient Greek Ready for School? The main goal for Ancient Greek artists was to depict ultimate beauty and harmony. Ancient Greek Art • Greeks depicted perfect body proportions and emphasized the muscular build of the human figure (Perfect = Ideal) (Since the Olympics originated in Ancient Greece, it makes sense that artists wanted to depict the perfect athletic build to inspire their athletes!) • They studied every detail of the human body…they used their eyes! • Greeks also believed in perfect proportions in their architecture and music following the guidelines for mathematical proportion. • Greeks built temples (sanctuaries) and created statues to honor their many Gods. • For a list of Gods, Goddesses and figures of Greek Mythology, click here • For a sample of Ancient Greek Music, click here Ancient Greek Architecture Ancient Greek Architecture • The Acropolis of Athens is located on a high rocky edge above the city of Athens and within its approx. 7 acres, it was a religious and spiritual sanctuary which contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historic significance, the most famous being the Parthenon. Rick Stevens Ariel View of Today’s Acropolis with the theater of Dionysos in the foreground Temple of Athena Nike The Parthenon The Erechtheion Leo Von Klenze, Reconstruction of the Acropolis. 1846 456 BCE Idealized view of the Acropolis and Athena Promachos, by the painter Leo von Klenze in 1846. The artist imagined the great statue of Athena Promachos as visible from far away, carrying a great spear in her right hand. .