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Greek Art and Archaeology c500-300 > Athens > Flashcards

Athens Flashcards

Parthenon and refinements, agora, Pericles programme, role of city in dev of Ionic order, typicality of the city, pottery quarter, their distinct pottery decor and shapes

1
Q

Persian Sack, Ath Acrop

A

pre-479

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2
Q

Thermistoklean Wall, Athens

A

pre-478

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3
Q

Athenian Funerary Law

A

c.500-480

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4
Q

Parthenon, Acrop

A

447-32

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5
Q

Lysikrates Monument

A

Built 335/4 BCE;
Base of the acropolis;
THOLOS
Elaborate Corinthian capitals, atop 6 engaged columns, are most distinctive feature;
elaborate Ionic entablature and frieze;
purpose was to commemorate winning first prize in a chorus performance by building this structure and putting bronze tripod on top.

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6
Q

Purpose of Lysikrates monument?

A

Lys = wealthy patron of musical performances
Mon was to commemorate winning (as litugist) poetry contest at City Dionysia, 335/334 BCE

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7
Q

Tholos

A

built c470;
as part of agora complex - close to Old Bouleuterion;
thought to have held banquet like occasions for boule;
only an interior colonnade, suggestive of economical decisions post-P war

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8
Q

T of Athena Nike

A

Built c430s-20s;
On Acropolis;
small size and simple execution;
Wholly Ionic configuration with unique amphiprostyle four column arrangement;
Complete ionic frieze around exterior - east of deities gathered with other three sides showing battles (NandS Persians and west greeks vs greeks);
wooden Athena Nike statue housed inside, wingless because it was Athena but sometimes ref to as ‘the wingless nike’

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9
Q

T of Hephaistos

A

built after 449 BCE;
south side of Ath agora;
doric peristyle 6:13 ratio;
oldest preserved Temple in marble;
deep pronaos comp to opisth.;
doric frieze have metopes of labours of herac on east and easternmost metopes on N and S side have those of Theseus;
ionic frieze within pteron - pronaos frieze shows Theseus v Pallantides and opisth frieze Centaurs v Lapiths;
housed bronze statues of Heph and Athena from 421 in two storied naos both doric colonnaded

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10
Q

Asklepeion

A

built 420;
on southern slope of Acropolis;
acted as a hospital, as many sanct.s of Asklepios that had become v popular in G world, did;
includes Temple, altar, and stoai (one Doric for overnight patients, one Ionic as a dining hall);
features Telemachos Monument - marble column inscribed w dedication to Asclepios coming from Epidauros and donor Telemachos Acharneas;

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11
Q

the Erechthion

A

Built over periods of 421-15 and 409-6 (after destruction of original by Persians);
on Ath Acropolis, sloping north side;
traditionalist worship - Erechteus was mythical king of Athens - alongside Athena polias;
Ionic: columns and capitals;
unusual use of porches - east = façade, north has pi shaped colonnade, south is caryatid portico;
multiple rooms on ground floor, likely for diff spaces of worship for E and Ath;
unique inscrip evidence attesting to the work force and expenditure for the T;
ionic frieze of N portico had blue grey marble background with marble figures pinned on top, fragments have been found but subject is unclear

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12
Q

What were the three main projects in Pericles’ building programme according to Plutarch?

A

Athena Parthenos (cult sculpture)
Parthenon
Propylaia

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13
Q

What was the aim of Pericles’ building programme and other T building in Attica and Athens in mid 5th cent?

A

re-building after persian destruction

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14
Q

3 main objectives of the ‘Periklean building programme’?

A

thank you offering to Athena and other gods for victory over Ps
improve the appearance of the Ath acropolis
use the greatness of the art and architecture for political means

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15
Q

What was the specific plan behind the rebuilding programme of the Acropolis? Why is this debated?

A

construct temples honouring the three aspects of Athena : Polias, Parthenos, and Nike
so many changes and interruptions interfered, and the Erechtheion construction does not fit with this

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16
Q

When did Parthenon construction begin? How long did it take?

A

448/7
c15 years

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17
Q

What was column ratio of the Parthenon? Why are they unusual?

A

8:17
width column number = larger than usual, likely because naos was wider to house the exceptional Athena cult statue

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18
Q

What was unusual about the configuration of Parthenon cella plan?

A

adyton behind naos. Likely acted as storage room.

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19
Q

Material of parthenon?

A

pentelic marble

20
Q

Features of Athena Parthenos?
Sources for this?

A

Pedestal of statue has frieze showing birth of Pandora
Chryselephantine (ivory and gold)
Sphinx image on helmet with two griffins either side
Head of medusa on chest
One hand holds up statue of victory, the other a spear
At her feet, a shield - Amazonomachy on outside gigantomachy on inside
serpent aside the spear base
Plutarch life of Perikles and Pausanias

21
Q

Who was the sculptor behind the Athena Parthenos? Why was he controversial?

A

Pheidias
He appeared to get special treatment through his friendship with Pericles

22
Q

What was particularly unusual about the temples on the acropolis in their time?

A

made entirely of marble
combo of doric and ionic orders
adyton (THREE times)

23
Q

When does the Archaic Parthenon (Hekatompedon) roughly dated to? On what evidence?

A

second quarter of 5th cent
566/5 was the reorganisation of the Great Panathenaic Festival

24
Q

When does the older parthenon date to? What was its significance?

A

490
built as a sort of victory monument for Marathon but then destroyed by persians

25
Q

Where did much of the wealth for the rebuilding programme of Athens post-persian wars derive from?

A

Persian spolia

26
Q

What was the Athena Promachos? When was it commissioned?

A

colossal bronze statue of Athen displayed on the Acropolis by Pheidias
c460

27
Q

Who were the two main architects of the Parthenon? Their supervisor?

A

Kallikrates and Iktinos
Pheidias

28
Q

Where did Pentelic marble come from?

A

Mt. Penteli (Pentelicus), Attica

29
Q

Arch decsrip of Parthenon plan?

A

Doric peripteral temple
8 x 17 peristyle
hexastyle porch colonnades
sat on stylobate (platform)

30
Q

What about the interior of the Parthenon was unique?

A

pi-shaped, two tiered Doric colonnade

31
Q

How was the Parthenon designed to allow more light in?

A

two main windows on eastern wall and light passing through marble roof tiles

32
Q

What was the function of the attic between the ceiling and roof of Parthenon? (2) How did one get there?

A

treasury
storage of votives

33
Q

What are the three particularly unique features of the Parthenon?

A
  1. early mixture of Doric order with ionic features (frieze, adyton columns, slender columns) and Cycladic elements (octastyle facade (?)) to create ‘attic-Doric’ style
  2. proportionality: balance of 3 dimensions and consistency of 9:4 ratio - one of inner harmony - in many features of the temple
  3. refinements: subtle, imperceptible alterations of regularity to such an extent that no line is straight nor surface flat.
34
Q

What are the main refinements of the Parthenon? (2)

A

entasis and curvature of columns
doming stylobate up to the entablature

35
Q

What is now understood to be the purpose of refinements of the Parthenon? (2)

A

practical: resolve technical difficulties likely related to its size
aesthetic: achieve a sense of mathematical concordance of all elements of the building

36
Q

What were the 3 functions served by the imagery of the sculpt. decor of the Parthenon?

A

religious and piety
decorative
political (symbolism, patriotism, ideological demonstration)

37
Q

What was unique about the extent of the sculptural decor of Parthenon?

A

both pediments, all metopes, inner frieze, and six acroteria all decorated with sculpture
“excessive”

38
Q

Subjects of Parthenon sculpt decor?
pediments, metopes, i frieze, acroteria

A

E pediment: birth of Athena, posing and arrangement uncertain but featured Athena, Zeus, and other Olympians.
W pediment: Athena vs Poseidon. (likely a message of reconciliation w Poseidon being patron of navy)
Metopes: E - Gigantomachy;
E - amazonomachy; N - Fall of Troy;
S - Centauromachy (S and N best preserved)
Ionic frieze: notional portrayal of Panathenaia.
acroteria: apexes - acanthus and palm leaves;
corners - winged Nikes in flight

39
Q

Meanings of sculptural decor of Parthenon?
pediments, metopes, frieze, and acroteria

A

Pediments: signif of Athena in Athens development AND significance of Athens in the world of the gods.
Metopes: sense of *agon (struggle) *with various threats including barbarians, foreigners, fellow greeks, Gods - perpetual fighting and attaining a world balance/order
I frieze: exceptional display of civic grandeur, pride, and piety (esp to Athena).
acroteria: nike symbolic of victorious record of Athens

40
Q

In general, what political statement does the whole Parthenon make?

A

assertion of political and economic strength and power

41
Q

Why does the Propylaia have many sims with the Parthenon?

A

same construction team and minds behind it

42
Q

What maximised the impact of the view through the propylaea to the Parthenon?

A

widened ramp

43
Q

Why is the propylaia in a plural form?

A

passageway included five gates of descending heights

44
Q

Arch description of propylaia?

A

2 sections arranged around an inverted T with a N-S dividing wall w 5 gates of tapering height within it
hexastyle façade of doric columns
passageway flanked by three (either side) ionic columns
(N of entrance) pinakotheke (picture gallery), side room with three column portico and off centre door

45
Q

what were the impressive features of the arch ornamentation of the propylaia?

A

beams, architraves, and polychrome ceiling coffers

46
Q

Why did the central gate of the propylaia have to be wider and higher? What was the gate seemingly most used by pedestrians and how can we tell?

A

To allow sacrificial animals and their attendants get through to sanctuary.
Northernmost gate, most wear.

47
Q

What evidence is there of the propylaia being unfinished? What are the theories explaining this?

A

Plan does not fully realise the plans of Mnesikles (architect) and unfinished surfaces throughout the building.
Outbreak of Pelo war OR ekklesia, due to their opposition to Perikles, refused to provide finances

Greek Art and Archaeology c500-300 (8 decks)

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