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Ancient Greek Art

History >> Art History

The Ancient Greeks became known for their perfection in art. During the classical era they developed their own style that historians would later call the Severe Style.

Periods of Greek Art

Archaic Period: The Greeks from the Archaic Period made sculptures of men called Kouroi and women called Korai. These statues had similar features and stood stiffly with their arms at their sides.

Classical Period: During the Classical Period, Greek artists began to sculpt people in more relaxed postures and even in action scenes. The most famous works from this era include the statue of Zeus at Olympia and the statue of Athena at Parthenos.

Statue of the goddess Athena
The statue of Athena at Parthenos
Photo by Marie-Lan Nguyen

Hellenistic Period: After Alexander the Great conquered much of Asia, the sculpture and artwork of the Greeks became influenced by the cultures and people they had conquered. This period is called the Hellenistic Period. This period saw new subjects including women, children, and common people appear in Greek art. Famous works from this era include the Venus de Milo, the Dying Gaul, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace.

Statue of the Winged Victory of Samothrace
Winged Victory of Samothrace
Photo by Adrian Pingstone

Greek Sculpture

Greek sculpture was meant to show perfection. They wanted to create lifelike images of near perfect humans. Unlike the Romans, the Greeks never showed human imperfections in their art.

Greek Columns

Greek Architecture was intertwined with their art. A big part of their architecture was their columns. The Greek columns have been used in western architecture for the past 2500 years.

In Greek Architecture there were three main types of columns that were used: The Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. See below for examples.

Sketch of a Doric style column
Doric Column
Sketch of an Ionic style column
Ionic Column
Sketch of a Corinthian style column
Corinthian Column
Source: Encyclopedie vol. 18

Greek Painting

Written record shows that the Greeks enjoyed painting and that it was one of their most important types of art. However, very few of their paintings have survived as they were painted on wood panels or walls which have since been destroyed.

Pottery

One place where Greek painting did survive was on pottery and ceramics. We can tell from the intricate detail and quality of work that the Greeks were very talented painters.

Ancient Greek Vase
Vase by Unknown

A shoulder Lekythos by Unknown


Legacy

Greek art and architecture had a significant influence over western art for thousands of years to come. Much of Roman art and architecture was borrowed from the Greeks. Later, the artists of the Renaissance were inspired by the work of Greek artists.

Interesting Facts about Ancient Greek Art Activities

For more about Ancient Greece:

Overview
Timeline of Ancient Greece
Geography
The City of Athens
Sparta
Minoans and Mycenaeans
Greek City-states
Peloponnesian War
Persian Wars
Decline and Fall
Legacy of Ancient Greece
Glossary and Terms

Arts and Culture
Ancient Greek Art
Drama and Theater
Architecture
Olympic Games
Government of Ancient Greece
Greek Alphabet

Daily Life
Daily Lives of the Ancient Greeks
Typical Greek Town
Food
Clothing
Women in Greece
Science and Technology
Soldiers and War
Slaves

People
Alexander the Great
Archimedes
Aristotle
Pericles
Plato
Socrates
25 Famous Greek People
Greek Philosophers

Greek Mythology
Greek Gods and Mythology
Hercules
Achilles
Monsters of Greek Mythology
The Titans
The Iliad
The Odyssey

The Olympian Gods
Zeus
Hera
Poseidon
Apollo
Artemis
Hermes
Athena
Ares
Aphrodite
Hephaestus
Demeter
Hestia
Dionysus
Hades

Works Cited

History >> Art History >> Ancient Greece for Kids


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