Archaic Period

Question 1

Define the Archaic Period (3)

Answer 1

• Archaios: ancient or old
• Comes from Pausanias, a greek Geographer who refers to art pre-5th cent. BCE as Archaic
• Today it refers to art between 7th cent.-early 5th cent. BCE

Question 2

What is happening in the Archaic period? (4)

Answer 2

• Established poleis
• Athens’ sees foundations of democratic reforms
• Invention of coinage
• Artisitic developments: refinements of architectural orders, formulaic kouroi and korai, black-figure and red-figure pottery, Athens is dominent center for pottery and sculpture

Question 3

Describe the versatility of Kouroi and Korai (4)

Answer 3

• Idealized
• Aglaos: containing brilliance, radiance, and eternal youth
• Votive offerings and grave markers
• Depicting gods, heroes, and mortals

Question 4

Identification (6)

Answer 4

Kleobis and Biton
* Found in Delphi from 570
BCE
* Made of Naxian marble
* Votive offering by the Argives
* Incisions indicates breastplate or clothes were added
* Idealized portraiture
* Could also be Dioscuri (Brothers of Helen of Troy)

Question 5

Define peplos (2), chiton (4), and himation (1)

Answer 5

Peplos: belted rectangular cloth that is folded over and secured by pins or sewn, heavier wool material worn by women

Chiton: 1-2 pieves of fabric sewm to make a tube, sleeves can be sewn, belted, worn by both gender, lighter materian

Himation: type of wool mantle worn over chiton or can be worn alone (which men do)

Question 6

Identification (3)

Answer 6

Phrasikleia
* Found in Cemetery of Merenda in Attica, from 550-540 BCE
* Made of marble
* Wearing a belted Chiton, jewelry, and sandles
* Depicting a kore (maiden eligible for marriage)

Question 7

Identification (4)

Answer 7

Caryatid Mirror
* Found in Cape Sounin, 510 BCE
* Free standing and made of Bronze
* Caryatid: cupids/angels of love
* Could be used as a feminine toillete, votive and funerary use

Question 8

Identification (5)

Answer 8

Cryselephantine Statue of Apollo
* Found in burial pits along Sacred Way in Delphi that had experience fire damage in 5th century BCE, from 6th cent. BCE
* Votive offering
* Original place is unknown
* Made of ivory and gold
* Part of fragmentary remains

Question 9

Identification

Answer 9

The Pediments at the Temple of Artemis
* Located in Corfu, from 580 BCE
* Made entirely from limestone
* Contains gorgoneion and titanomachy (gods vs. titans)
* Used as apotropaic figure (protection from harm)
* Medusa in a whirligag gesture (one-knee)

Question 10

Define gorgoneion

Answer 10

The decapitated head of Gorgon Medusa, used as a apotropaic figure (visual or motif to protect from harm)

Question 11

Identification (6)

Answer 11

Siphnian Treasury
* Found along the Sacred Way of Delphi, from 535-530 BCE
* Space for offerings deciated to a god/goddess
* Ionic style
* Indicates more than one scupltor, East and North are simmilar
* East side shows pediment of struggle between Apollo and Herakles over Delphic tripod, dark blue background
* North side shows frieze of gigantomachy (battle between giants and Olympian gods)

Question 12

Identification

Answer 12

Pitsa Panels
* Found in a cave dedicated to nymphs near town of Pitsa located in Corinthea
* From Late Archaic, 540-530 BCE
* Made of wooden panels with plaster and paint
* Votive offerings
* Shows family procession to altar
* 4 in total

Question 13

Describe Laconian Pottery

Answer 13

• 6th cent. BCE important pottery and bronze working producrtion
• Exported beyond Laconia
• Production mysteriously ceases at end of 6th cent. BCE
• Use of cropping “porthole” scenes

Question 14

Identification (4)

Answer 14

Eurytios Krater
* From early 6th century in Corinth
* Corinthian column krater (mixing wine)
* Polychrome: red and black
* Has a mythological scene: Banquet of Eurytios
* Early example of symoitic pottery

Question 15

Explain on the Attic Pottery Industry (6)

Answer 15

• Only minor producer of pottery in 7th cent. BCE
• Mid 6th cent. BCE, Athens dominates market
• Abandon orientalizing B&W style and adopts Corinthian black-figure
• Use clay from Attica: distinctive red-orange colour
• Painters being to sign their names
• Family workshops, generational craftsmen

Question 16

Idenitification

Answer 16

Francois Vase
* Discovered in Chiusi at Etruscan chamber tomb, 570 BCE
* Attic volute krater made of teracotta, mimics ionic column capitals
* Burial good
* Named after Alessandro Francois (discovered it)
* Damaged by museum guard in 1900

Question 17

Identification (3)

Answer 17

Exekias Amphora
* From Attica, 540 BCE
* Signed by Exekias (potter and painter)
* Two sided: Achilles and Ajax playing dice, Dioscuri returning home

Question 18

Explain red-figure pottery

Answer 18

• Emerged at end of 6th cent. BCE
• Eventually dominates market in popularity
• Developed in Athens
• Figures: left in natural red of terracotta, outlined with black or red-brown
• Black slip used for background
• Red and white slip can also beused for details