Classical Period (5th Century BCE)

Question 1

Describe classical style (6)

Answer 1

• Three divisions: early classical (slightly rigid), high classical, late classical
• Lifelike
• Idealisms through proportions
• Restrained emotion (pathos)
• Movement, slightly on hip (contrapposto)
• Representation of real people

Question 2

Identification (6)

Answer 2

Riace Warriors
* 460-450BCE
* Found in shipwreck in Mediterranenan sea off S coast of Italy
* Cast bronze (lost wax technique)
* To honour warriors
* Shield and weapons are now lost
* Have inlaid eyes, copper lips and nipples, silver teeth

Question 3

Describe the Canon of Polykleitos (2)

Answer 3

• Didn’t survive
• Set of rule or guides on bodily proportions

Question 4

Identification (6)

Answer 4

Doryphoros of Polykelitos
* Original is bronze from 450-440 BCE
* Found in Pompeii
* This one is known in marble “Roman copies”
* Doryphoros= spear bearer
* Shows asymmetry
* This version is hellenistic

Question 5

Identification (6)

Answer 5

The Parthenon
* From the 5th century
* Located at Acropolis of Athens
* Local pentelic marble
* Damaged by Lord Elgin
* Larger than the temple of Zeus at Olympia
* Built in sections

Question 6

Identification (6)

Answer 6

Nike Adjusting Her Sandal
* 420-410 BCE
* Found in Temple of Athena Nike
* High-relief made of marble
* Wet-drapery style (cloth is clinging to body with folds and reveals more anatomy)
* Exemplifies chain folds that shows shadow between folds of drapery
* Eroticization of military victory

Question 7

Define skiagraphia and skenographia

Answer 7

Skiagraphia: use of shading to created 3D depth
Skenographia: scene painting, use of perspective to create 3D space

Question 8

Identification (6)

Answer 8

Tomb of the Diver Fresco
* 470 BCE
* Found in Poseidonia/Pastem
* 5 limestone slabs locally sourced, frescoes painted inside
* Named after the lid (diver jumping into water), might be diving into underworld
* Burial for a young male, debate about its ethnicity
* Has a symposiym scene with kottabos and pederasty (older male to younger male)

Question 9

Identification (6)

Answer 9

Attic White-Ground Lekythos
* 440 BCE
* From Attica
* Teracotta, colours from yellow chiton and red himation, brown contour lines for depth and shadow
* Lekythos: oil vase used to pour libations on grave monuments, or buried as burial good in graves
* Shows two muses on mount Helicon with a lyre and inscribed rock
* Eyes are in profile, no longer almond eye

Question 10

Describe the Parthenon’s Decorative Program

Answer 10

Themes
* Pediments: patron goddess Athena
* Metopes: Greeks figthing their enemies (Amazons, Centaurs, Trojans, PERSIANS), Olympian gods imposing order over giants
* Frieze: Procession of Athenians