Greek Art /35

Name:____________________
Architecture
Grade 9 - Greek Art Questions
1. Make a sketch of each of
the three Orders of
Parthenon floor plan, Decorative Styles: (3)
Athens, 448-432 B.C.

Order Order
Archaic Period Classical period

Parthenon, Athens, 448-432 B.C. Marble.

Originally was a temple for Athena, the patron goddess
of Athens. Its damaged state reflects the neglect and
Three Orders of misuse over the centuries.
Decorative Style
Order
Decadent period

Map of Ancient Greece 2. Make a sketch of the floor plan

& eastern Mediterranean. of the Parthenon. What is the
It is the art of the Greeks shape of the structure?(2)
that we begin to see forms
and images that we are
very familiar with today in
our own art and architecture.
Western civilization can
trace its roots to that of
classical Greece and Rome.
3. What architectural element is
used to organize the space?
How is the space organized? (4)

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 4. Make a sketch of the male Kouros
Sculpture sculpture from the Archaic period and
1) Archaic Sculpture: All sculpture was originally painted to heighten list the five Egyptian influences and
realism. Much of the archaic sculpture was used as ornament for temples. five new Greek innovations in figure
Although early Greek sculpture looks like Egyptian sculpture there are new sculpture. (11)
characteristics. There were two main types of free standing figure sculpture
in this period: Egyptian influence
1.
Egyptian Influence
1. Stiff position 2.
2. Block shape
3. Poor understanding 3.
of
anatomy 4.
4. Left foot
forward 5.
5. Clenched fists
Myron, The Discobolus, New Greek Innovations
c. 450 B.C. 1.

2.
New Greek
Innovations 3.
1. Nude male figure
2. Diaphragm 4.
rendered
3. Archaic smile 5.
Kouros, Kore,
c. 530 4. Negative space
c. 620 B.C., between legs, 5. What does the term contrapposto
Marble. B.C., mean? (1)
Marble. arms and body are
cut out
5. Anatomy
attempted
6. Compare the early female Kore
with the Aphrodite of Cnidus and list
2) Classical Sculpture: First time we see a nude female 1 stylistic similarity and 1 stylistic
since prehistoric times. She is Aphrodite, the goddess of innovations that appear in Aphrodite.
beauty and because of her size 6’8” - she is monumental (2)
stone sculpture. This figure is free-standing and shows
the natural contrapposto position where the body
describes an ‘S’ curve. Her weight is on one leg and 7. How does the shape of the
her anatomy is realistic and well articulated - exhibiting Praxitles,
Aphrodite of Discobolus figure convey a
the Classical Greek ideal proportions for the female figure. sense of movement? (1)
Cnidus, c. 350 B.C., 6’8”. /15
 Story: In the Laocoon
group we see a Greek
Sculpture myth from the Trojan war.
The priest Laocoon and his 8. Describe how the artist uses line
sons are being strangled to convey a sense of movement in the
by sea serpents sent by Laocoon and his Two Sons work. (1)
Poseidon (god of the sea)
as punishment for warning Painting
the Trojan king against
invading Greeks.
9. What term is used to describe the
clothing and drapery during the
decadent period of Greek sculpture?
(1)

10. How can Greek decadent

sculpture best be described as? (1)

11. All remaining Greek paintings

appear on what kind of objects? (1)

12. Make a sketch of the figures

Dipylon Vase. that appear on the Dipylon wine
Athens, jar vase from the archaic period
740 B.C., painting section. Describe the
Terracotta. shape of the figures and how they
are arranged on the vase. (3)

Laocoon and his Two Sons, 2nd B.C. -

1st A.D. Rome, 2.13 meters high.
All that remains of Greek painting appear on
3) Decadent Sculpture: Once sculptors were able to make Greek vases; no murals exist.
their work realistic, they needed to go beyond realism.
Artists started to explore the psychological world and 1) Archaic Painting: This example of archaic
emotions. The work became more dramatic and exaggerated. painting is a double-armed wine jar. Its shows
Clothing or drappery took on a life of its own and is often stylized figures in horizontal registers as in
described as wet drapery. Egyptian paintings. The registers are separated
by bands of geometric patterns that repeat. /7
Painting

13. Make a sketch of the Dionysus in

a Boat vase from the Classical period
and describe how the artist creates
a sense of movement in the
work. (2)

14. What artistic elements does the

artist use to distinguish each figure
on the Achilles and Ajax playing a
Exekias, Dionysus in a Boat, 540 B.C. Board Game amphora? Which figure
is Achilles and which is Ajax? (2)
Exekias, Achilles and Ajax Playing
2) Classical Painting: The vases done in this period use black figures.
a Board Game. 540-530 B.C.,
This piece was used to mix wine with water before drinking. (Dionysus
Terracotta, 61cm.
was the god of wine.) There are seven bunches of grapes and seven
dolphins because 7 was a lucky number. This painting illustrates
He integrates form with pyschology to
the Greek myth of Dionysus who was kidnaped by sailors and taken
convey the impression that Achilles, the
away in a boat. He made them jump overboard and they were
younger warrior on the left, will win the
turned into dolphins.
game. On the right, Ajax leans farther
forward than Achilles so that the level of
his head is slightly lower than Achilles
and he has removed his helmet.
Achilles’ helmet and tall crest indicate
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his dominance.