Classical Art: Greek Terms Flashcards
Acropolis
high city, highest and most fortified point within a Greek city-state
Cella
the inner area of an ancient temple, especially one housing the hidden cult image in a Greek or Roman temple.
Composite Capital
A capital with an ornate combination of Ionic volutes and Corinthian acanthus leaves that became popular in Roman times.
Contrapposto
a sculptural scheme in which the standing human figure’s weight rests on one leg, freeing the other leg, which is bent at the knee. With the weight shift, the hips, shoulders, and head tilt, suggesting relaxation with the subtle internal organic movement that denotes life.
Corinthian Order
the most ornate, slender and sleek of the three Greek orders. They are distinguished by a decorative, bell-shaped capital with volutes, two rows of acanthus leaves and an elaborate cornice.
Dome
a vault, having a circular plan and usually in the form of a portion of a sphere, so constructed as to exert an equal thrust in all directions
Doric Order
The oldest and simplest of the three main orders of classical Greek architecture, characterized by heavy fluted columns with plain, saucer-shaped capitals and no base-more masculine
Entablature
The upper section of a classical building, resting on the columns and constituting the architrave, frieze, and cornice
Ionic Order
a taller, thinner column with scroll shapes on its capital
Kore
the name given to a type of free-standing ancient Greek sculpture of the Archaic period depicting female figure. Kore=”young maiden”
Kouros
modern term given to free-standing ancient Greek sculptures which first appeared in the Archaic period in Greece and represent nude male youths. In Ancient Greek, kouros=”Young boy”
Linear Perspective
a type of perspective used by artists in which the relative size, shape, and position of objects are determined by drawn or imagined lines converging at a point on the horizon.
Pediment
the triangular space (gable) at the end of a building, formed by the ends of the sloping roof above the colonnade
Pseudoperipteral
a temple that has a series of engaged columns all around the sides and back of the cella to give the appearance of a peripteral colonnade.
