Greek Art - Terms

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Stratigraphy

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thegeological study and analysis of strata and their relationship in geologicaltime

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Style

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a distinct appearance that canbe associated with a culture/time

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Absolute chronology

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thespecific determination of age based upon measurable physical/chemical qualitiesor historical associations.

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Relative chronology

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atime scaled developed by the law of superposition or artifact ordering; placingin correct sequence in relation to each other

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Medium

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materialused in the creation of a piece of artwork

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Iconography

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thestudy of illustrations, symbols, and portraits

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Aegean

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relatingto the region around the Aegean Sea located between the mainland areas ofGreece and Turkey

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Cycladic

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relatingto the region of the Cyclades, the group of Greek islands southeast of themainland in the Aegean Sea.

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Helladic

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theBronze Age cultures of Greece in 3000-1050BC, ending in the Mycenaean age.

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Minoan

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theBronze Age civilization centered on Crete (3000-1050BC)

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Anatolia

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Asiaminor, the westernmost part of Asia that includes the majority of modernTurkey. Bordered by the Black Sea to the north, the Mediterranean Sea to thesouth, and the Aegean Sea to the west.

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Troy

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A city located in Asia minor,in modern Turkey, and is the subject of the Trojan War and the Iliad. Foundedin 3000 BC.

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Keros

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anuninhabited Greek island in the Cyclades noted for the flat-faced Cycladicmarble statues that inspired Picasso.

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Crete

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thelargest of the Greek islands settled by the Minoans in 2700-1420 BC beforefalling to the Mycenaean people and many others after.

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post-and-lintel

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anarchitectural system with a lintel, header, or architrave as the horizontalconnector over a building only supported by vertical columns or pillars

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Knossos

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theancient Minoan capital on the island of Crete that was considered the center ofa Bronze Age culture flourishing in 2000-1400 BC. The traditional site of thelabyrinth of Daedalus and King Minos’ palace.

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Phaistos

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a Bronze Age, Minoan citylocated in south-central Crete also known as Phaestus.

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Ashlar

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masonry made of largesquare-cut stones, typically used as a facing on walls of brick or stone.

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Lustral basin

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a sunken room found down asmall set of stairs in many Minoan palaces that are believed to have been usedfor ritual purifications or bathrooms

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Horns of Consecration

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theterm used by Sir Arthur Evans to describe the ubiquitous Minoan symbol of thehorns of the sacred bull. They are a symbol derived from the actual horns ofsacrificial oxen

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Pillar crypt

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asubterranean room with a square central pillar, often flanked by a pair ofbasins connected by shallow channels (Minoan)

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Pier-and-door partition

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polythyrons, consist of aseries of openings framed by square-sectioned wooden piers.

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Kamares ware

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adistinctive type of ceramic produced in Crete during the Minoan period; usuallyflorals executed in white, red, and blue on a black field

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Marine style

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developedaround 1500 BC, the Minoan style of pottery characterized by the depiction ofsea creatures rather than flowers

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Rhyta

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anancient Greek drinking horn, made of pottery or metal, having a base in theform of a woman/animal head.

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True fresco

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theart of painting on a moist, plaster surface with colors ground up in water orwith a limewater mixture.

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Faience

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afine tin-glazed pottery style on a delicate pale piece of earthenware

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Thera

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an ancient city on a ridge ofthe Messavouno mountain on the Greek island of Santorini. It was named afterthe mythical ruler, Theras, and was inhabited from the 9th centuryBC until 726 AD. It was founded by Doric colonists from Sparta.

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Akrotiri

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aMinoan Bronze Age settlement on the volcanic Greek island of Thera. It wasdestroyed in the Theran eruption of 1627 BC and preserved the remains of manyfine Frescoes and art under the volcanic ash.

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Mycenae

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afortified late Bronze Age city located between two hills on the Argolid plainof Greece

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Mycenaean

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modernname for the civilization of the Greek mainland in the Middle and Late BronzeAge, named after the important site of Mycenae

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Linear B

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writingsystem of the Mycenaean Greeks

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Lerna

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siteof the House of Tiles in EHII in the Argolid

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Kolonna

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anEH/MH Greek town on the island of Aegina

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cist grave

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smallpit, lined with stone and a lid, used for burial

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shaft grave

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acist grave at the bottom of a deep shaft

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‘Gray Minyan Ware’

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unpainted,silvery-grey Aegean pottery from MHIII

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Grave Circle A

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a shift grave set near Mycenae from LHIA-IIA containingsix, large, rich graves from people of wealthy, probably warrior families.

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corbeling

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stakingprogressively smaller rings of stone on top of another and trimming the innercorners to create a smooth, beehive-like dome

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dromos

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longpassage giving access to a tomb

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Tiryns

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anancient Mycenaean palace and citadel in LHIII

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Pylos

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an ancient Mycenaean palace in LHIIIB

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megaron

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largerectangular room, often with a circular hearth at the center, preceded by avestibule, a porch and an entry court, typical of Mycenaean architecture

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Palace Style

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newpottery style developed in Knossos in LMII-IIIA that combined Minoan style ofvegetal/marine imagery with Mycenaean wares

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Cyclopean masonry

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masonryaround some Mycenaean citadels, built with enormous rough-hewn stones believedto be the work of the giant Cyclopes

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stirrup jar

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adistinctive Mycenaean jar with stirrup-like handles used for holding oils

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polis

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a city state; emerged in IronAge (~1100 BC)

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Dorian

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oneof the major subgroups of the Greek-speaking peoples

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Geometric

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Iron Age pottery style ofGreece, also used as a synonym for the Iron Age

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symposium

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formalized drinking party

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Lefkandi

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thesite of the apsidal hall on the island of Euboia in the 10th century

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peristyle

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arow of columns running around all four sides of a temple or courtyard

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Submycenaean

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astyle of Greek pottery between the Mycenaean pottery style and the later Protogeometricstyle (~1030 BC)

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Protogeometric

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apottery style in which vessels are taller and more symmetrical with highshoulders.

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Eretria

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Greeklocation of one of the earliest Greek hekatompedons

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akropolis

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‘highcity’; the citadel of any Greek town or city

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hekatompedon

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anearly Greek temple style; ‘hundred-footer’ that was unusually long andhorseshoe shaped with some smaller buildings near it.

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Ephesos

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siteof the most significant religious structure of the period – a small stonetemple of a rectangular plan to the goddess Artemis that utilized theperistyle.

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Corinth

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citythat invested heavily in sanctuaries on the isthmus in the 8thcentury as a way to mark territory.

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Isthmia

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siteof the shrines of Poseidon; was strategically located and accordingly receiveddedications of weaponry and tripods

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Perachora

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siteof the shrines of Hera; dominated the shipping on the Corinthian Gulf, andgifts ran more to the Phoenician and Western imports. Emphasized feminine items(jewelry)

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Panhellenic

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relatedto all of the Greek-speaking peoples

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agalma

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statuededicated to a god; literally ‘delight’ or treat of the god. Replaced liveanimal sacrifices.

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tripod cauldron

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originallyused for cooking sacrificial victims, the bronze cauldrons were tokens of giftexchange within Greek aristocracies. Later larger and ornate in the 8thcentury, they become display pieces in sanctuaries

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Orientalizing

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the 7th century; atide of Eastern imagery swept away the Geometric style and Easternmotifs/customs pervaded all levels of Greek society

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hoplite phalanx

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anew military tactic developed during the Orientalizing; in which bronzespearman (hoplites) shielding the man to his left and spear in the right. Tookroot in many artistic images and cultural expressions

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Al Mina

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settlementon the coast of Syria that was believed to be Greek given its large quantitiesof Greek pottery, but more likely a port of trade for offloading goods to shipto more interior Syria

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Syracuse

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foundedin 730s by the Corinthians in eastern Sicily. A planned community with strongcentral authority ‘Gamoroi’ that planned for growth. Outpaced Corinth andprovided blueprint for future urban planning on mainland Greece.

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Metapontion

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Akhaiantown in southern Italy established in 630; established a ring of sanctuariesaround their territory that did not entirely displace local traditions. Citywas divided into religious and political-commercial zones.

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agora

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Greek marketplace;civic center

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griffin protomes

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tripodcauldron handles that featured griffin heads made of hammered bronze or a castmold

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sphinx

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creaturewith a lion’s body, eagle’s wings, and a woman’s head

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Protocorinthian

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styleof pottery developed in late 7000s by Corinthians and possibly Levantcraftsmen; introduced the usage of colored sips and the use of a sharp point toscratch details into the glaze

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black-figure

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techniqueof decorating pottery with black painted silhouettes against unpainted clay,with incised details and a restricted number of secondary colors. Invented inCorinth before red-figure

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Wild Goat Style

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styledeveloped in south Ionia in the middle 7th century that includedrepetitive bands of animals (goats) and no humans or narrative scenes

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Protoattic

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Athenianversion of Orientalizing style that came in Early (700-675), Middle (675-650),and Late (650-600) phases.

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Dedalic Style

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away of rending people in the late 8th century from Crete; the headwas a set of 3 triangles, one down for the face and two upwards for hair

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Potnia Theron

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“Mistress of Panthers”; termused to describe Artemis clutching panthers

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Psamtik

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anEgyptian price in 664 that rebelled against the Assyrians and along with Greekhelp, united Egypt becoming Pharaoh and granting the Greeks a trainingconcession at the site of Naukratis

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Naukratis

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atown in the Nile delta established in 620 as a gift to the Greeks by Psamtikthat featured massive stone buildings

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sema

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‘signs’;statues, tombs, letters, omens and other meaningful things

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Prinias

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siteof the first stone temple in Greece, built on Crete. Has little resemblancehowever to later mainland shrines. The doorway had a richly-carved lintel whichwas unusual

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kore

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popular type of Archaicstatue: a young woman, clothed, standing stiffly with one arm at the hip, theother holding something to the breast/with forearm extended forward, legstogether or slightly offset.

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kouros

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populartype of Archaic statue: a nude or semi-nude youth, standing stiffly with armsat/near side and one foot (left) forward.

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Archaic Period

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Period between 600-480 B.C.

Major trend of this period was the growing centralization of power in Cities and Civic institutions. Polis system is firmly in place at this time. Witnessed massive expansion in number/size of temples.

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Terracotta Roof Tiles

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Technological discovery made by the Greeks in the 7th century. Combine flat pan tiles with rounded or pointed capping tiles. This was a major improvement over the previous thatch method. The weight of the tiles required substantial walls to support it leading to a change to stone. Additionally, tiles make a square house plan more favorable changing form Apsidal.

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Sima

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A continuous terracotta buffer that served the same purpose as the Antefix. Used in Sicily and other areas. They were painted and used as decoration.

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Antefix

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Upright buffer along the roof line that prevented the terracotta tiles from falling off. Used mostly on the mainland. They were painted and used as decoration.

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Pronaos

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Front porch of a temple. Used for entrance as well as a congregation space.

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Opisthodomos

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Rear porch. Used to display offerings at the temples. There was no entrance into the temple from the rear porch. Could only be accessed from inside. Used in mainland and East Greece.

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Peristyle

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A row of columns running around the building and supporting the roof. Most likely originated to protect the mud-brick walls from the rain/wind. Ended up being one of the most defining features of greek Architecture. Only became common after roof tiles.

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Adyton

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Inner room behind the main hall. Western temples often omitted the Opisthodomos in favor of this room. It probably served a special religious purpose. 'Holy of Hollies' room

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Architrave

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The horizontal blocks resting on top of the columns.

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Frieze

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Found on Doric temples. Consists of alternating flat metopes with rectangular grooved triglyphs.

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Triglyph

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Grooved panel, part of the Doric Frieze. Alternates with the metope.

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Metope

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Square or rectangular panel, part of a doric frieze. Alternates with the Triglyphs. Can be decorated with paint of relief carving.

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Flutes

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Long, straight groove running along the length of a column. Roughly semi-circular in section.

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Echinus

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Part of the capital in both Ionic and Doric. Literally translated means "sea urchin". Is the bottom part of the capital that transitions out of the column itself.

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Volute

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Part of Ionic temple Columns. Located on the capital. Two spirals that are on the capital.

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Pediment

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Triangular area formed by the sloping of the sima. Often this is filled with carvings of gorgons as an omen to keep evil away from the temple.

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Stylobate

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The floor upon which the columns stand. Part of the lowest element of the column. It is the last of three steps that lead to the column. In ionic temples the base connects to the Stylobate. In Doric, the column rests directly on the Sylobate

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Doric Order

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More 'masculine' of the two orders based on its "bare foot" look. The capital is planer than the Ionic. Believed to have started in wood and transitioned to stone (temple of Hera). Other examples include Temple of Apollo at Syracuse, Temple of Apollo at Thermon.

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Ionic Order

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More 'feminine' of the two orders. Base looks slightly like it is wearing shoes. Named after Ionia but might not actually be from Ionia. Characteristic features include a base in between stylobate and column. Does not have Triglyphs or metopes. Began as support for votive offerings (sphinx).

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Aeolic

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An earlier "order" of Greek temple. It is based on the Levantine palm Capitals. Temple of Athena at Smyrna but it did not survive into the 6th century.

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Isthmia, Temple of Poseidon

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One of the earliest and most important of the monumental temples in the First half of the 7th century. First temple to boast a tiled roof. Much of this temple was still built with wood. There were many clumsy solutions that would be abandoned as temple building evolved.

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Syracuse, Temple of Apollo

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Doric temple. Built ca. 590-580 B.C.

Huge monolith stone columns. From how close together the columns are, it is clear that architects worried about the distance an architrave can span without cracking. Inscription about Kleomenes indicated that money was donated by him for the temple.

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Thermon, Temple of Apollo

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Ca. 630 B.C.

Another Doric Temple. Had significant decoration. Triangular pediment in front, hipped roof in back and a row of columns down the middle. Excellent depicition of what large scale painting was like in this period.

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Corfu. Temple of Artemis

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Ca. 590 B.C.

Had an elaborately decorated pediment. The first carved stone Pediment in the Greek world. Combined Gorgon motif with the narrative style of the Thermon Temple. Depicts medusa along with pegasus and Chrysaor. Medusa's past, present and future combine into one frame. Doric Temple

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Selinous

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Throughout 5th and 6th centuries

On south coast of Sicily. A series of Massive doric temples were built. Three groups, one for underworld deities, one for gods of the sky and one for the patron gods of the city. We begin to see carved metopes. The jumble of images on the temple correspond to the city's pantheon not just one god.

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Ephesos, Artemision

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Ca. 560 B.C.

A father and son team, Khersiphron and Metagenes, designed it. The temple was so large that the main hall had to remain unroofed. Example of and Ionic Temple. Many of the columns were paid for by Croesus, king of Lydia. Considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world

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Coresus of Lydia

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Ca. 560

Kind of Lydia. He paid for many of the columns on the Temple of Artemis at Ephesos. His Kingdom was later taken over by the Persians shortly after.

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Lakonian Black-figure

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Lakonia had a modest production of pottery in the 6th century. Seem to be 2 workshops working together. The Boreads painter was most likely an immigrant. Scenes on this pottery usually crop figures at the edge of a picture frame. Roosters "cocks" were very prevalent on this pottery. Production ceased rather abruptly in the last third of the 6th century.

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Corinthian black-figure

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There are three phases, Early, Middle, and Late. Towards middle and late phases, words occupy increasing importance. Slowly this pottery lost ground to Attica and ceased to exist.

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Eye-Cups

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Ca. Second half of 6th Century

Large cups meant for drinking wine. When the drinker would put the cup to his mouth to drink, those around him would see a set of eyes staring at them. This symbolized the transformation people underwent upon drinking wine. Invented at Rhegion, in the toe of Italy.

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Attic Black-figure

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The 6th Century saw Attic pottery become the clear leader in the Aegean. The industry was started by immigrants from Corinth. Artists begin to regularly sign their cups as well as label characters on them. The famous Exekias painter made some of the greatest examples of Athenian pottery. He started to transition into much more open images. Not so much going on on each pot.

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Kalos Inscription

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Popular by 520

These were inscriptions made on Attic vases that were not the names of their creators but often times praised the beauty of certain adolescent boys. Kalos translates to beautiful. Were added at the behest of the person who purchased the vase.

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Fancois Vase

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Volute Krater made in 575.

It has an incredible amount of 'visual richness' depicting the Wedding of Thetis and Peleus, Peleus hunting the Kalydonian Boar, Funeral of Achilles etc...

Bears the signature of the painter (Kleitias) and the maker (Ergotimos). Huge amount of inscriptions on it. Found in Tuscany

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Nikosthenes

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Ca. Second half of 6th Century

Operated a workshop that produced a direct copy of Etruscan shaped vases in Attica. This tells how important the Etruscan market was to Athens as pottery was buried in Etruscan tombs.

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Exekias

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Around 540-530 B.C.

One of the most famous vase painters in Athens. He introduced the eye-cup to Athens and made a new style of painting. The images he made were much freer and more open. Figures and objects often mimic each other. Many scenes become much more emotional. Our attention is directed to the most emotional spots of the painting.

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Amasis Painter

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Ca. Second half of 6th century

Contemporary of Exekias. His name is Egyptian marking him as a resident alien or slave. His work was even saluted by Exekias. Contrasts the city of Athens with the countryside on one of his most famous vases.

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Caeretan Hydriai

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Ca. Second half of 6th Century

One of the few examples of pottery that was not dominated by the Athenians. Two potters settled in Caere after being displaced by the Persian conquests. Made very lively and colorful vases. Famous for their depiction of Perseus fighting the sea monster. Possible Phokaian origin for the painters. Their works die out a the end of the 6th century.

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Kouros

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Term for a male statue. They were often found in cemeteries and temples. They were used as a way to publicly display private wealth. They were not supposed to be the likeness of the person donating them. They were supposed to be an idealistic representation of Beauty.

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Kore

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Term for a female Statue similar to the male Kouros. Since men tended to dedicate the statues, it is possible they were representative of a wife or daughter. Again they were supposed to represent idealistic beauty and were always clothed.

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Archaic Smile

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A term to describe the slight smirk that is present in nearly all Archaic statues. Again it embodies a sort of unnatural feel.

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Poikilia

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Visual complexity and decorative patterning, a desirable feature in artworks.

Visible on Korai. Certain aspects were added to make this effect.

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Ptoion

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Flourished in 2nd half of 6th Century

A sanctuary in Boiotia. It was taken over by Thebes in 480 B.C.

Before this, The sanctuary of Apollo at Ptoion housed offerings from aristocrats. The series of Kouroi died out around the same time that Thebes took over.

Shows that Kouroi became the new emblems of elite prestige over tripods.

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Grave Stele

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Ca. Second half of 6th century

A type of grave marker in Attica. The men depicted in these reliefs were always depicted doing/holding something. There is a high degree of characterization and customization.

These were usually crowned with a sphinx. The kouroi and stele evoke two different communities, local and Panhellenic.

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Herm

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Ca. 520 B.C.

Slabs of stone bearing the head of the god Hermes and an erect phallus. They were erected at the halfway point between Athens and each of the rural townships of Attica. Demarcated the civic boundaries. These sculptures serve to enact the drama of political centralization.

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Phrasikleia

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Ca. 540 B.C.

The name of a funerary Kore due to the inscription left on it. Phrasikleia was young girl who died before marriage and therefore as a virgin. She is holding a budding lotus.

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Nike

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Ca. 550

Goddess of Victory. Appears as a winged maiden. Sources say that Arkhermos of Chios was the first to represent the goddess with wings. Drapery streams off of her leg in order to suggest rapid movement. These 'motion lines' become an important device in the 5th century.

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Akroteria

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The decorative element at the corners of a roof. These were usually made of terracotta as stone was too heavy to be put into place.