Classical Greece/Helenic Era

When: 500 - 323 B.C.
Where: Greece
What: A culture that was highly advanced and heavily influenced the cultures of ancient Rome and Western civilization.

• Most famous and impressive time period
• Stars the city of Athens
• 5 Great City States:

1. Athens
2. Sparta
3. Corinth
4. Thebes
5. Argos

• The Greek Polis: government
• Agora: downtown
• Persian Invasions (approximately 500 B.C.)
• Delian League
• Athens = The Acropolis (Acro=high Polis=city)
• Classical Greek Philosophies:

1. Each person has the responsibility to make the most of himself
2. Moderation in all things
3. Belief in human perfection = arete
4. Beware of pride = hubris

• "The Apology" by: Plato
• 3 Orders of Greek Architecture:

1. Doric - simple, box, no base
2. Ionic - spirals (volute), no triglyph, base
3. Corinthian - very extravagant, most feminine, Romans love this style

• Greek Drama and Greek Tragedy (Mimesis of a Praxis)
• Harmatia = the tragic flaw
• "The Medea" by: Euripedes
• Pythagoras of Samos

"Discobolous" by: Myron

- Most popular Helenic piece of art

- Moderation in all things

- No emotion

- He is the physical ideal

- Idealized - Arate/Arete

The Acropolis

"Doryphoros" by: Polykleitos

- Contrapposto

- Symmetria

- Arete

- Realistic depiction of human

The Parthenon

- Commissioned by Pericles

- Foreman was Phidias

-Dedicated to Athena

- Doric architecture

- Post and Lintel

- Megaron = rectangular floor plan