13 - Architectural Decoration Flashcards
Geometric Temple of Apollo at Thermos
Archaic temples usually narrow. Opening towards the west - exception to the general rule (usually opening towards the east to get sunlight). Single row of columns through the naps to create a stable structure. Problem with these columns is that they would hide a cult statue. There is no pronaos, but there is a small opisthodomos.
Athenian Acroplis before 480
480 is important because the Persians come and ransack Athens. Eventually they returned and collected everything to either reuse or bury it. That’s why there are pediments found that can’t be related to a single structure for sure.
Early Lion pediment
Early 6th cent. Usually associated with old temple on Athenian Acropolis. Lion crouches on a very small bull - size has meaning, a comment on the importance of the two animals (unrealistic). Combo of male and female: there is a mane but also teats. Hypothesis is that they decided to combine two genders to present the strength of the male lion along with the nourishing qualities of female - perhaps even like Athena, a female warrior-protector. Note use of symbolic representations of animals and not concrete representations of mythology.
Late Lion Pediment
Early 6th cent. A development of the motif of lions lording it over bulls. Mythological narratives are used but occupy the corners. In greek art very rarely see teeth and protruding tongue, unless it is a protective figures. Lions are united at the center. One is female, one is male. Mythological: Heracles fighting Triton (important because Athens getting aware of military power), and on the right, blue-beard (three bodies of snakes twining and ending with three men. No literary explanation for these; they hold water. Compared to earlier pediment, avoids unsightly gap in the middle.
Artemis temple on Corfu (Korkyra)
Early 6th cent. BCE. Early psedodipteros temple. Experimental architecture on these islands. Mythological narrative in center associated with the Medusa images. Wild animals turned towards the viewer offering protection to the temple. Conflation of time: Pegasus and a young boy came out of her head…except here she’s still alive. Left corner - spear pointed at a man; man seated with supplication gesture (possibly Priam). Right corner - Zeus about to kill giant (gigantomachy)
Treasury of the Sipinians at Delphi
- Very embellished Ionic building. With Ionic buildings, usually there are four individual narratives at each side of the frieze. West: Judgment of Paris; North: Gigantomachy (very sophisticated, with several layers of representation and an artist signature on a shield).East: divine assembly - usually associated with those from Iliad and Odyssey. Very vivid communication. South: an abduction, but badly preserved. Rare narrative found in architectural.
Temple also notable for use of caryatids.
Aphaia temple at Aegina
Late 6th/Early 5th. Three pediments, two eastern and one western (because the original east was damaged and replaced). Content: the Trojan wars. Famous because of the traces of color - helped scholars understand the use of bright color in Ancient Greek sculpture. The famous oriental archer/Paris
Temple of Zeus at Olympia
470-457/6. The apogee of temple architecture. East Pediment shows birth of Peloponnese: constructed as free-standing. Balanced and uninvolved action of figures (not touching). Same can be said of the western but there is a little more conflict. The same kinds of peaceful and balanced composition is at the metopes. Style is Severe.
Parthenon - General Info
447-432. Over-the-top architectural decoration. Every metope bears decoration (92). Ancients thought that it had too many decorations, columns, painted sculptures. Frieze is on the interior, running all around. A single narrative - unusual.
Erechtheion
421-05. An experimental building. Temple without typical temple plan. Fries on the outside and a second ionic frieze on the other side of the the temple where there is a lower pediment. Use of caryatids - compare with those at the Siphnian Treasury. The hall of the caryatids has interesting placement in the Acropolis - would face the procession, transforming into petrified viewers of it. From the moment of their creation, these kore were representative of Greek culture and often copied. Three have right leg and three left leg pondered (towards center).
Nike Temple
430-21. Three Athenas venerated on Acropolis, this had victory one. A lot of decoration; pediments not very well preserved. Possibly a depiction of the Battle of Marathon, which had already attained legendary status. On the parapet walls, multiple depictions of nike. Flat wings that originally were painted. Three figures of Athena are visible on the parapet wall (410), viewing what Nike is doing. At this point, everybody is aware that the Peloponnesian war is going to be lost. Creating a luxurious parapet wall celebrating victory is ignoring reality - wishful thinking. Monument looks towards the outside, so visible before you even get into Acropolis.
Altar of Zeus in Pergamon
175-150 BCE. The last use of sculpture in architectural structure. Monumental depiction of the gigantomachy all around - the only narrative that never loses its power. Drawing connection with Athenians, taking victory narrative. Interesting reversal - emotional expressions on giants’ faces realize not only the perspective of victor but also that of defeated party. Personified night - not the similarities to the Nike of Samothrace (movement, drapery) - style goes across media, sculpture in the round to relief.
