Arcahic

Greece and Etruria

By Sheccid Villagomez
  • Period: 900 BCE to 700 BCE

    Geometric Period

    The Geometric Period (900-700 BCE) was the start of a new culture and language that focused on the people and their funerary practices. Funerary objects/ grave markers were made with the great use of geometric patterns and figures about Greek mythology using Horror Vaccui. Common material used to make these pieces include terracotta and bronze.
  • Period: 900 BCE to 100 BCE

    Etruscan Period

    The Etruscan Period (900-100 BCE) was a successful period of great trade of high resources, a focus on the afterlife, and was influenced by the Greek. The art of the Etruscans included pottery with terracotta, temples, structures, and funerary practices such as tomb paintings. These pieces tended to be more vibrant and less focused on perfection.
  • Period: 800 BCE to 650 BCE

    Orientalizing Period

    The Orientalizing Period (800-650 BCE) included international trade and influences from areas such as Ancient Near East and Egypt. In addition to geometric patterns, black figures of mythical creatures were used to decorate pottery. Terracotta was continued to be used throughout this period.
  • Geometric Period, Greek culture, Bronze man and centaur, ca. 750 BCE, Bronze, 4 3/8”, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
    750 BCE

    Geometric Period, Greek culture, Bronze man and centaur, ca. 750 BCE, Bronze, 4 3/8”, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

    The Bronze man and centaur (ca. 750 BCE) is a still figure made of bronze and shows a human with his arms around a centaurs neck as the human is defeating him. This piece represents the importance of the relationship between the Greeks and centaurs, showing that the Greeks stand stronger.
  • Orientalizing Period, Etruscan culture, Terracotta kantharos (vase), 7th century BCE, terracotta, 7.24”, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
    700 BCE

    Orientalizing Period, Etruscan culture, Terracotta kantharos (vase), 7th century BCE, terracotta, 7.24”, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

    The Terracotta kantharos (vase), (7th century BCE), displays an image on both sides including humans, animals, and mythical creatures that are guiding and at work. This is an example of the many Bucchero ceramic ware (used mainly by the Etruscans) that was for the use of high class and for funerary reasons.
  • Orientalizing Period, The Polyphemos Painter, Eleusis Amphora, 675-650 BCE, Clay and Terracotta, 56.02”, Eleusis Archeological Museum, Greece
    675 BCE

    Orientalizing Period, The Polyphemos Painter, Eleusis Amphora, 675-650 BCE, Clay and Terracotta, 56.02”, Eleusis Archeological Museum, Greece

    The Eleusis Amphora (675-650 BCE) is an example of clay and terracotta that moves away from geometric patterns to telling stories with black figures. There are two stories being told, one on the neck of the vase and the other on the body. Stories of mythology were used as decoration for these grave markers as the importance of Greek history.
  • Period: 650 BCE to 480 BCE

    Archaic Period

    During the Archaic Period (650-480 BCE) culture continued to expand and their art began to grow and change as well. Naturalistic Kourous and Kore figures made of marble were created with the Archaic smile to show they're happy and blessed, black/red figures painted on pottery to share stories, and temples to worship the deities.
  • Archaic Period, Greek culture, Temple of Hera I, Paestum, c. 560-530 BCE, Stone, [Dimensions], Italy.
    560 BCE

    Archaic Period, Greek culture, Temple of Hera I, Paestum, c. 560-530 BCE, Stone, [Dimensions], Italy.

    The Temple of Hera I, Paestum (c. 560-530 BCE) is a doric temple made of stone with a geometric capital. The columns are made wider in the middle and go straight into the base with a row of columns in the center of the temple. Temples during this period were an important aspect, as they were used as houses for the deities and were worshipped from the outside.
  • Archaic Period, Etruscan culture, Silver gilt ring, late 6th–early 5th century BCE, Gold and silver, 5/8”, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
    500 BCE

    Archaic Period, Etruscan culture, Silver gilt ring, late 6th–early 5th century BCE, Gold and silver, 5/8”, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

    The Silver gilt ring (late 6th–early 5th century BCE) is made of the rich materials gold and silver with a geometric border and dark mythical animals in the center. This piece shows the importance of animals to the Etruscans, as animals helped guide them.
  • Period: 480 BCE to 450 BCE

    Early Classical Period

    The Early Classical Period (480-450 BCE) was the continuation of sculptures and temples for worship. Sculptures consisted of the change from the Archaic smile to the Severe Style with an expressionless face and more realistic/ideal forms. As temples were important for the gods, there were pediments that showed their stories, specifically those fighting centaurs.
  • Early Classical Period, Greek culture, East metope 4 from the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, 470–457 BCE, Marble, 1.6 x 1.6 m, Archaeological Museum of Olympia, Greece
    470 BCE

    Early Classical Period, Greek culture, East metope 4 from the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, 470–457 BCE, Marble, 1.6 x 1.6 m, Archaeological Museum of Olympia, Greece

    The East metope 4 from the Temple of Zeus at Olympia (470–457 BCE) is a relief made and a metope of marble, showing Athena and Herakles holding up the sky for Atlas. All the figures in this relief were made with the severe style and naturalistic pose while sharing how deities are viewed (even half deities have less strength than full deities).
  • High Classical Period, Greek culture, Marble grave stele of a little girl, ca. 450–440 BCE, Marble and Parian, 31 ¾" x 14 9/16” (top), 15 ½” x 4” (base), The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
    450 BCE

    High Classical Period, Greek culture, Marble grave stele of a little girl, ca. 450–440 BCE, Marble and Parian, 31 ¾" x 14 9/16” (top), 15 ½” x 4” (base), The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

    The Marble grave stele of a little girl (ca. 450–440 BCE) is a relief made of marble, displaying a little girl created using the severe style, holding pigeons, and wearing a peplos. This stele is an example of grave markers and is used to show her life, continuing to keep that image into her afterlife.
  • Period: 450 BCE to 400 BCE

    High Classical Period

    The High Classical Period (450-400 BCE) is known as the "Golden Age" and sculptures were made to show a moment of activity and movement. The temples included reliefs made of marble that shared the roles of the people and how the gods played a role in their life. Funerary steles were made as grave markers with a carved image demonstrating the persons status.
  • Classical period, Etruscan culture, Mars of Todi, late 5th or early 4th century BCE, hollow-cast bronze, 55.5”, Gregorian Etruscan Museum, Vatican Museums
    400 BCE

    Classical period, Etruscan culture, Mars of Todi, late 5th or early 4th century BCE, hollow-cast bronze, 55.5”, Gregorian Etruscan Museum, Vatican Museums

    Mars of Todi (late 5th or early 4th century BCE) is a bronze statue of a warrior made with the severe style in a contrapposto pose. This statue is a votive figure and shows how this period grew in both naturalistic poses and representation of the warriors status.
  • Period: 400 BCE to 323 BCE

    Late Classical Period

    During the Late Classical Period (400-323 BCE), sculptures were still made of marble, but there were changes that included less idealism in the body, more emotion in the face, and the growth in showing movement in the statues. This period also introduced the first female nude sculpture.
  • Late Classical Period, Lysippos, Apoxyomenos (Scraper, Roman copy after a bronze statue), c. 330 BCE, Marble, 6' 9", Vatican Museums, Vatican City.
    330 BCE

    Late Classical Period, Lysippos, Apoxyomenos (Scraper, Roman copy after a bronze statue), c. 330 BCE, Marble, 6' 9", Vatican Museums, Vatican City.

    The copy of Apoxyomenos (Scraper, Roman copy after a bronze statue, c. 330 BCE) is made of marble and shows a figure in a contrapposto pose cleaning himself. This period involved making the figure with a smaller head, taller, and with more movement. This is an example as his arm is extending outwards, allowing the viewer to fully walk around it.
  • Period: 323 BCE to 31 BCE

    Hellenistic Period

    The Hellenistic Period (323-31 BCE) started with the death of Alexander the Great and was a period of new leaders and battle. Sculptures of marble and bronze shown to be more realistic and included pathos in the body/face. These sculptures were created with movements that share a story and included the use of shadow to make the image more dramatic.
  • Hellenistic Period, Greek culture, Barberini Faun, c. 220 BCE, Marble, [Dimensions], Glyptothek, Munich, Germany.
    220 BCE

    Hellenistic Period, Greek culture, Barberini Faun, c. 220 BCE, Marble, [Dimensions], Glyptothek, Munich, Germany.

    Barberini Faun (c. 220 BCE) is a sculpture of a Satyr made of marble who was sleeping after coming from a party. The face of the satyr expresses more emotion and his pose is realistic rather than ideal. This is an example of how mythical creatures continue to play a role in stories and how art is growing into aspects of including new and open ideas.