Temple of Zeus Flashcards
where?
Olympia
when?
completed in 475BC
what kind
hexastyle, doric
faces
east
architect
Libon
size
27*64m
height of columns
10.5m
base of column
2m in diameter
how many metopes
6
what time of colonade
internal double colonade
who was the cult statue
Zeus
how tall was the cult statue
13m
what was the cult statue made from
chryselephantine (gold and ivory)
temple made of
limestone
where is it located in olympia
in the middle of the sanctuary
who designed the cult statue
Pheidias
what were the metopes on the temple of sues a story of
the 12 labours of Hercules
three metopes studies
The Nemean Lion, Atlas, Stables, Bull
which three figures
Athene, Heracules, Hermes
Composition
good use of levels, full composition, focal point is heracles
Heracles in The Nemean Lion
Doesn’t look very Heroic (looks sad and tired) therefore good characterisation. Has his head in his hands-characterisation
Athene in The Nemean Lion
Looks caring and undetached towards Heracles,
Heracles and the Bull
height of struggle
composition
chiastic, showing action energy, fills frame, eyes drawn to v shape.
Heracles in the Bull
abs reflect strain, therefore realistic
Composition in Atlas
verticle, focal point earth on Hs shoulders
Athene in Atlas
supportive, showing no strain like Heracles (godlike)
Athenes Peplos
realistic: caternary folds, flat symmetry, knee seen through peplos
Heracles in Atlas
shows strain holding the earth, not so Heroic
Atlas in Atlas
holding apples
Stables
Athene watching H sweep stables
Heracles in Stables
shown as bearded, therefor emote mature, focal point (Athene is looking towards him), diagonal , sense of movement
composition in stables
good use of space, both Hs and As arms are parallel therefore gives sense of team work
Athene in Stables
Very vertical, doesn’t look detached, her folds are uniform and symmetrical, led clearly visible
Subject matter on East Pediment
chariot race of Pelops and Oinomoas
why is the sub matter on E ped appropriate to site
because event took place on the site of Olympia
composition on east ped
no action, therefore no sense of movement, very balanced but not symmetrical, difference in figures makes it more interesting , unity of scale achieved, no figs touch
How characters fill ped (EP)
Zeus fills ape, then two men, two women, then horses and chariots, kneeling and sitting figures, water gods lying down
why is there no sense of movement on E P
Snapshot of the movement before the race, therefore tense, implicitly psychology
what is happening in the east pediment
oinomaos is explaining the rules to Peplos(who knows he will cheat) Hippodamia looks bored and uninterested, Sterope looks nervous
how are characters shown to be old or young
beards, musculature, body language (e.g. hand on hip)
when was the west pediment on the temple of zeus finished
465-457BC
what type of faces do all characters have on WP
severe style
hair type WP
archaic therefore not realistic
sense of movement in WP
yes, sense of action and chaos.
unity of scale achieved on WP
YES, VERY WELL
Main god in the apex
apollo
what is the story being shown on the WP
Lapiths vs Centaurs
who do Centaurs represent
persians
Symmetrical on WP
no but balanced
difference of EP and WP
less characterisation and differentiation that EP, but much more exciting and intrigueing
