Greek Flashcards
What is the time period of Greek civilization?
3200-32 BC
What were independent city-states in Greece called?
Polis
What material was abundant in Greek architecture?
Marble
How were Greek structures originally colored?
Technicolor
Which civilization developed a system of writing that influenced Greece?
Phoenicians
Who believed in the Ideal Form?
Plato
What principle emphasizes balance and moderation in all things?
Golden Mean
What period saw the revival of figure painting in Greece?
Dark Age and Geometric Period (1000-700 BC)
What period saw the construction of the oldest Doric and Ionic temples?
Archaic Period (700-480 BC)
What was the favorite subject of Greek nude male statues?
Kouros
What characteristic smile is seen on female Greek statues, symbolizing life?
Archaic smile
What material were original Greek statues made of before being replaced by marble?
Bronze
Which period set the standard of Greek art?
Classical Period (480-323 BC)
What is the name of the stance where the body weight rests on one leg?
Contrapposto
Who formulated the canon of proportions in Greek sculpture?
Polykleitos
Which period saw Greek sculptors humanize gods and introduce Corinthian capitals?
Hellenic Period (480-323 BC)
What style is characterized by movement and increasing naturalness?
Severe Style
What style represents Greece’s Golden Age, with idealized representations of subjects?
Classical Style
What sculpture, created by Polykleitos, is known for its vertical folds of clothing?
Wounded Amazon
What famous Greek sculpture depicts a discus thrower?
Discobolus
What period marks the time after Alexander the Great’s death, exploring new subjects?
Hellenistic Period (323-31 BC)
What famous sculpture was placed in front of a ship?
Winged Victory of Samothrace
What sculpture depicts characters of a Trojan legend being attacked by serpents?
Laocoon and His Sons
What Greek pottery style features figures painted in black silhouette?
Black-figure
What Greek pottery style uses red figures against a black background?
Red-figure
What Greek pottery style uses a wash of white clay as the background?
White Figure
What type of Greek vase was used to store honey, olive oil, wine, and water?
Amphora
What is a Greek water jar with three handles called?
Hydria
What type of Greek bowl was used for mixing wine and water?
Krater
What flask was used for storing and pouring oil?
Lekythos
What wine container was used in ancient Greece?
Pelike
What Greek jug was used for pouring wine?
Oenochoe
What type of Greek drinking cup was used?
Kylix
What wine cup was used by Dionysus?
Kantharos
What container was used by Greek women to store trinkets or cosmetics?
Pyxis
What is a set of rules or principles for designing Greek buildings called?
Classical Order of Architecture
What is the earliest and most massive classical order, symbolic of masculinity?
Doric
Which classical order is symbolic of femininity and has a fluted shaft with a base?
Ionic
Which classical order is the most decorative, featuring slender columns?
Corinthian
What technique was applied to Greek columns to counteract perspective?
Entasis
What is the small, flat, plain molding used to separate other moldings?
Fillet
What is the wide straight surface molding called?
Fascia
What convex molding is approximately the exterior of a semi-circle?
Torus
What deep concave molding is found on a column base?
Scotia
What convex curved molding is a quarter-circle and often features an egg and dart motif?
Ovolo
What s-shaped curved molding starts and ends horizontally and often features a honeysuckle motif?
Cyma Recta
What s-shaped curved molding starts and ends vertically, often featuring a waterleaf motif?
Cyma Reversa
What sculptural column features a female form?
Caryatid
What sculptural column features a male form?
Telamones
What is the topmost step of a three-step Greek temple base called?
Stylobate
What is the main vertical structure of a Greek column called?
Shaft
What is the snug band at the top of a column shaft called?
Necking
What is the flat, curved element with rounded sides on a column capital called?
Echinus
What is the flat square element above the echinus on a column capital?
Abacus
What horizontal member sits above the column capital?
Architrave
What band above the architrave consists of alternating triglyphs and metopes?
Frieze
What are rectangles with carved vertical incisions on a Doric frieze called?
Triglyph
What slabs of stone on a Doric frieze are either plain or decorated with relief?
Metope
What short band is located under the triglyph?
Regula
What projection above the frieze protects it from weather?
Cornice
What is the low slanting cornice called?
Raking Cornice
What is the triangular gable resting on the cornice called?
Pediment
What is the Greek public plaza and meeting place called?
Agora
What long colonnaded multi-purpose building functioned as a shopping center?
Stoa
What is a Greek ‘city upon a hill’ called?
Acropolis
What type of structure was built to house a deity?
Temple
What type of Greek building was used for plays and performances?
Theater
What semi-circular space was hollowed out from a hill for performances?
Auditorium
What is a large tomb named after King Mausolos called?
Mausoleum
What elongated theater was used for foot races?
Stadium
What elongated theater was used for horse and chariot races?
Hippodrome
What was the Greek senate house called?
Prytaneion
What covered meeting place was used by elected officials?
Bouleterion
What small covered theater was used in Greece?
Odeon
What gymnasium housed athletes in ancient Greece?
Palaestra
What is the front porch of a Greek temple called?
Pronaos
What is the main room of a Greek temple where the cult statue was housed?
Naos
What type of temple plan freed the inside from columns?
Peripteral Columns
What large circular area in a Greek theater was used for performances?
Orchestra
What was the acting area placed behind the orchestra called?
Proscenium
What was the backdrop and dressing area of a Greek theater called?
Skene
What was the entrance of a Greek theater called?
Parodos
What was the exit of a Greek theater called?
Exodus
What was the fortified citadel and state sanctuary of ancient Athens called?
Acropolis of Athens
What was the monumental entrance to the Acropolis called?
Propylaea
What was the gallery in the Acropolis called?
Pinacothea
What was the 40-ft gold and ivory statue in Athens called?
Statue of Athena Promachos
What temple is famous for the Porch of the Caryatids?
Temple of Erechtheion
What temple was dedicated to Athena and featured 8 Doric columns at the front and rear?
Parthenon
Who designed the Parthenon?
Iktinos and Kallikrates
Who was the sculptor of the Parthenon?
Phidias
What ratio determined the Parthenon’s length to width and column spacing?
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