Periods in Ancient Greece

Archaic (800-480 BCE)Classical (510-323 BCE)Hellenistic (323-31 BCE)

Minoan (2600-1400 BCE)Mycenaean (1900-1100 BCE)Dark Ages (1200-750 BCE)

Archaic Period (800-480 BCE)

Inspired by Egypt and MesopotamiaIncreasing understanding of human anatomyEarly attempts to show human characteristics (“archaic smile”, step forward)Very rigid

Kouros: standing nude youthKore: standing draped girlSeated woman

Charioteer of DelphiTransition period between Archaic and Classical

Classical Period510-323 BCE

Classical ArtRevolution in statues – associated with introduction of democracy

More naturalistic, more variety in forms

Depict real people – especially those who overthrew tyrannyMore decorative sculpture for public and private buildingsMeant to depict ideals and “civilize the emotions”

Classical SciencePhilosophy

Socrates, Plato, Aristotle

History

Herodotus (“The Father of History”), Thucydides

MathPythagoras (scientific ordering of the universe)

Hellenistic Period323-31 BCE

Hellenistic ArtMore diverse, influenced by cultures of peoples conquered under Alexander the GreatMore naturalistic, realisticCommon people become acceptable subjectsSculpture as a “global industry” (for public buildings across the empires)

Hellenistic ScienceScience

Aristarchus (sun as center of universe)

Eratosthenes (calculated Earth’s circumference)

Euclid (Elements, geometry textbook)

Archimedes (pi, geometry of spheres and cylinders)

Hellenistic PhilosophyEpicureanism

Human beings are free to follow self-interest as a basic motivating forceHappiness is the goal of life and the way to achieve happiness was to pursue pleasure (freedom from worry)Remove self from public life, except for friendship

StoicismHappiness can be found when people gain inner peace by living in harmony with the will of GodPublic service highly respected

ep·i·cu·re·an  (p-ky-rn, -kyr-)adj.1. Devoted to the pursuit of sensual pleasure, especially to the enjoyment of good food and comfort.2. Suited to the tastes of an epicure: an epicurean repast.3. Epicurean Of or relating to Epicurus or Epicureanism.n.1. A devotee to sensuous and luxurious living; an epicure.2. Epicurean A follower of Epicurus.

sto·ic  (stk)n.1. One who is seemingly indifferent to or unaffected by joy, grief, pleasure, or pain.2. Stoic A member of an originally Greek school of philosophy, founded by Zeno about 308 b.c., believing that God determined everything for the best and that virtue is sufficient for happiness. Its later Roman form advocated the calm acceptance of all occurrences as the unavoidable result of divine will or of the natural order.adj. also sto·i·cal (--kl)1. Seemingly indifferent to or unaffected by pleasure or pain; impassive: "stoic resignation in the face of hunger" (John F. Kennedy).2. Stoic Of or relating to the Stoics or their philosophy.