Printable Flash Cards

Figure of Woman from Syros (Plank Idol)
Cycladic Period
3,000-1,600 (1,500) BC
Nude woman with arms folded across abdomens. About a foot and a half tall. Large simple triangles dominate the form.
Primarily funerary offerings. Usually palce on their backs in the graves lying down, like the deceased. Scupture emphasizes on breasts and pubic area. Probably a fertility figure.

Male lyre player, from Keros
Cycladic Period
3,000-1,600 (1,500) BC
Marble. Male figures occur as seated musicians. Simple geometric shapes and larg flat planes.
Wedged between echoing shapes of chair and instrument, he may be playing for the deceased in the afterlife. Stylized, realisitic, modern.

Sir Arthur Evans

was a British archaeologist most famous for unearthing the palace of Knossos on the Greek island of Crete and for developing the concept of Minoan civilization from the structures and artifacts found there and elsewhere throughout the eastern Mediterranean.
Minoan Period
3,000- 1,400 (1,500) BC

Legend of Minotaur

Minoan Period
3,000- 1,400 (1,500) BC
King Minos had angered the Greek God Poseidon by not sacrificing a great white bull that had been sent to him. Poseidon decided that he would punish King Minos by making his wife Pasiphae fall in love with the bull. Pasiphae hid herself within a hollow wooden cow statue and the bull found her attractive, the result of their 'union' unfortunately was their son the Minotaur a fierce half bull, half man like creature. The Minotaur was kept inside a huge labyrinth built by the chief architect at Knossos, Daedalus. King Minos had defeated King Aegeus of Athens and had threatened to destroy his country unless he gave seven young women and men for sacrifice to the Minotaur every nine years.
Theseus, King Aegeus's son had no idea why every nine years his father was so sad and begged his father to tell him why. Theseus decided that he must go to Crete as one of the prisoners and slay the Minotaur. King Aegeus protested, Theseus was his only son and heir to the throne, and no one had ever returned. Beat minotaur but forgot to change the sails to black, King A dies.

Palace at Knossos
Minoan Period
3,000- 1,400 (1,500) BC
Only palace we look at, Greece never unified. No fortification in palace construction. Peaceful location, places for storage, bussiness, laws, etc.
Legendary home of King Minos. Daughter Ariadne helped Theseus find his way out of labyrinth with spindle of thread. Separate living quarters, theater like areas. Knossos had as many as three stories, columns were buldous on top (Doric), and advanced drainage system.

Bull- Leaping (Toreador Fresco)
Minoan Period
3,000- 1,400 (1,500) BC
Found on interior wall. Origin of Olympic game, youth taking part of it. Grabs horn, flips on back, stand, then flips off. Women= fair skin, Man= dark skin.
Dangerous, game that showed skill/worth. Liveliness and spontaneity. The powerful charge of bull is shown with elongated shape. Full eye profile pose, Self confident. The angularity seen in Egyptian wall paintings is modified by the curving Minoan line that suggests the elasticity of the living and moving being.

Landscape with Swallows, Spring Fresco
Minoan Period
3,000- 1,400 (1,500) BC
One of the earliest frescos. Free form, blue mountains.Blue isn't natural, butsee it in birds flying and flowers. No humans, first known pure landscape example.
Wet plasteris used to section and paint is put on and absorbd. Have to go with speed infresces. Crocus= yellow dye, economic item to trade) Nature itself is sole subject in spring. Colored rocks, swaying breezes, and swallows express vigor of growth.

Minoan Column
Minoan Period
3,000-1,400 (1,500) BC
Made of wood, bulbouse, cushionlike capitals and distinctive shafts. Similar to Doric capital

Snake Goddess
Minoan Period
3,000- 1,400 (1,500) BC
Very distinctive, boobs hanging out and cat on head. Tiered skirt, apron, head gear. Could be mortal or divine.
Religious of some sort, women holds the power over the animal world- snake in hands, feline on head.

Pottery: Kamares Ware Jar
Minoan Period
3,000- 1,400 (1,500) BC
Simple design, spirals, football, circles, geometric shapes. Creamy white and reddish brown against rich black background. Central motif= leaping fish.
Swirling lines evoke life in the seat, compliment the shape of the vessel. Sea life on pottery

Pottery: Octopus Jar
Minoan Period
3,000- 1,400 (1,500) BC
Tentacles of the octopus reach out over the curving surfaces of the vessel, embracing the piece and emphasizing volume.
More muted in tone than Kamares jar, but has dark silhouettes on light ground. Very advanced

Harvester Vase
Minoan Period
3,000- 1,400 (1,500) BC
Finest surviving example of Minoan relief sculpture. Figures have bursts of energy and the crowd is singing and shouting as they go to or return from the fields.
Lusty exuberance of the youths. One man shakes rattle to beat time and lungs are inflated with air that his ribs show. First time in history that there is interest in underlying muscual and skeletal structure of human body. Vase held precious oil and defined the Minoans.

Heinrich Schliemann

archaeologist, and an advocate of the historical reality of places mentioned in the works of Homer. Schliemann was an archaeological excavator of Troy, along with the Mycenaean sites Mycenae and Tiryns. His work lent weight to the idea that Homer's Iliad and Virgil's Aeneid reflect actual historical events.
Mycenaean Period
1,400- 1,100 (1,500) BC

Iliad and Odyssey

Literature
Mycenaean Period
1,400- 1,100 (1,500) BC
Homer's Iliad and Odyssey are a major part of ancient history, especially that ofAncient Greece
I=is an epic poem in dactylic hexameters, traditionally attributed to Homer. Set during the Trojan War, the ten-year siege of the city of Troy (Ilium) by a coalition of Greek states, it tells of the battles and events during the weeks of a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles.
O=Sequel to Iliad. The poem mainly centers on the Greek hero Odysseus (or Ulysses, as he was known in Roman myths) and his journey home after the fall of Troy. It takes Odysseus ten years to reach Ithaca after the ten-year Trojan War.^[2] In his absence, it is assumed he has died, and his wife Penelope and son Telemachus must deal with a group of unruly suitors, the Mnesteres (Greek: Μνηστῆρες) or Proci, who compete for Penelope's hand in marriage.

Citadel of Tiryns- Cyclopean walls
Mycenaean Period
1,400- 1,100 (1,500) BC
Cyclopes are a race of one eyed giants. Greeks didn't believe humans could erect such edifices and attributed the construction of the citadels to cyclopes.
Defensive structure that has corbeled arches

Citadel- Megaron

Mycenaean Period
1,400-1,100 (1,500) BC
The most important place in the palace= megaron, or reception hall of the king.
Main room had a throne against the right wall and wooden columns. Core of some of greek temple plans

Lion Gate
Mycenaean Period
1,400- 1,100 (1,500) BC
Outer gateway of stronghold at Mycenae. Protected on left by a wall build of natural rock outcropping and on right by projection basing of larg blcoks. Missing head sculpted separately of bronze or gold and fastened into holes of stone.
Relieving triangle filled with two lions carved in HIGH relief. Harmonizzing in dignity, strength, and scale with massive stones that form walls and gates. Monstrous guardian figures, similar to sphinx, lamassu, etc.

Mycenaean Period
1,400- 1,100 (1,500) BC

Corbel arch relieved the lintel of the weight of the wall that rose above it to a height of about fifty feet. (b)
Vault is held in place only by the weight of the rocks.

Beehive Tomb
Mycenaean Period
1,400- 1,100 (1,500) BC
Wealthy Mycenaeans laid to rest outside citadel walls in these tombs thats were covered by earthen mounds. Best preserved= Treatsury of Atreus.
More sophisticated and difficult than gallery of Tirynes. Has no interior supports, great achievement not surpassed until Romans.

Funerary Mask
Mycenaean Period
1,400- 1,100 (1,500) BC
Beaten gold mask that is compared to Tuts mask. Not agamemnon
One of first known attempts in greece to render the human face at life-size. Beard depicts mature man, perhaps king.

Warrior Vase
Mycenaean Period
1,400- 1,100 (1,500) BC
Form is a krater, a bowl for mixing wine and water. Prominent fireze of soldiers marching off to war. Women bids farewell on left, as armed soldiers move away.
No idication of setting and lacks the landscape elements that characterize Minoan and Mycenaean art. All soldiers repeat the same pattern, so return to repetative forms of earlier eras.

Dark Ages

· Mycenaean Period

· 1,400- 1,100 (1,500) BC
With the destruction of Mycenaean palaces around 1200 BC, Greece was plunged into a DARK AGE.
This is when the arts of paitning, carving, building, and even writing almost dissapeared.
The Dark Ages of ancient Greece is the name given to the 300-year period of cultural decline that began when the Dorians, nomads (wandering tribes) from the northwestern part of the Greek mainland, conquered the Mycenaeans on the island of Crete around 1100 B.C.

Dipylon Vase
Geometric Period
900- 700 BC
Krater, or mixing bowl that marked the grave of the Athenian man buried around 740 BC. Bottom of vessel is open to permit visitors of grave to pour libations to honor dead. Abstract angular motifs in horizontal bands.
A technical achievement for both potters skill and wealth/ position of deceased mans family in community. Human figures and horse drawn chariots, also mourning of a man laid out. Empty space with circles and M shaped ornaments, while silhouettes are traingular. Man has penis out of thigh while woment tear out hair in grief and have hair under armpits. BVoth human figure and art of storytelling was revived!

Hero and Centaur
Geometric Period
900-700 BC
3 things to be greek: 1- To be man not animal 2- To be man not female 3- To be Greek not barbarian
Centur is imp.. mythical greek figure. Hero Kerakles is battling myth figure that was part man part horse (Nessos)
The man is larger than the horse that suggest he will be the victor. Hero is nude. Human legs in front, hind legs= centaur

776 BC

Orientalizing Period
700-600 BC
Important date for Greeks.
According to the earliest records, the first Olympic games were held in 776 BC.The Olympic games originate in athletic contests to honor of Zeus and other deities at Olympia.The games were also helped to solve the constant civil wars among the Greek city-states. The ancient Greek Olympics were held every four years during the full moon of midsummer.
Religious festival to honor Zeus

Mantiknlos Apollo
Orientalizing period
700- 600 BC
Bronze statuete that was dedicated to Apollo of Thebes. Inscription in thigh, offering to Apollo god of sun.
In left hand at one time held a bow, its an image of the diety. Its a votive offeriing and had stylized triangular torse. Elaborate hairdo and chest muscles are shown. Interest in human anatomy

Corinthian Black Figure Amphora
Orientalizing Period
700-600 BC
Has lions, and panthers which aren't from the mainlands, next to native boar there are also rosettes throughout. Amphora= two handled storage jar. On neck= siren, part bird part women.
Still working in bands, the story appears on the vase. Ceramic technique of black figure painting, painted figure in black then incised details

Encaustic sculpture

known as hot wax painting, involves using heated beeswax to which colored pigments are added. The liquid/paste is then applied to a surface—usually prepared wood, though canvas and other materials are often used.
Encaustic (molten beeswax, resin, and pigment) is an ancient art form that has been adapted by contemporary artists to make luminous and sculptural art work.
Archaic Period
600- 480 BC

Kouros Youth-600 BC
Archaic Period
600-480 BC
Imp. archaic figure, is a Kouros (Greek Hero). Usually from the Olympic game, can tell because he is naked. Left foot in advance , arms are held beside body, and fist are clenched with thumbs forward (very stiff)
Served funerary purpose, stood over a grave. Also used as votive offferings. No block, he is free standing

Kouros Youth- 525 BC
Archaic Period
600-480 BC
Identified as young man named Kroisos, died a hero's death in battle.
Kourous statue is at his grave. Has a more distinctive Archaic smile. Human body is in more naturalistic manner, head is no longer too large,fac is more rounded, hair does not form a stifff backdrop. Has rounded hips

Calf Bearer
Archaic Period
600-480 BC
Not an athlete. Citizen bringing an offering to Athena, in thanksgiving for his prosperity. Man has an Archaic smile.
Steps with left foot manner of the kouroi, but is beared, therefore no longer a youth. Wears a thin cloack unlike nudebody. Arms of man and legs of calf forms an X that unites the bodies physically and formally.

Peplos Kore
Archaic Period 600-480 BC
Kore= female, Doric. She is wearing peplos- long woolen belted garment that give the female figure a columnar appearance. Had traces of paoint on her. Left hand probably held an attribute that would identify her as maiden or goddess.
Drapery conceals entire body, soft female form more naturally. Extended arm shows a break from the compression of the arms at the sides in Egyptian statues.

Kore from Acropolis
Archaic Period
600-480 BC
She's highly decorative, pleases on her dress and quite fancy. In her hair she has decorations of flowers as well as earrings. Chiton and himation were garment of choice for fashionable women.
Grasp chiton in left hand to lifet it off the ground, equivalce of left food of korai. Much more vaiety and like an Ionic order more colored and decorative

Stoa

Ancient Greek architecture; covered walkways or porticos, commonly for public usage. Early stoae were open at the entrance with columns, usually of the Doric order, lining the side of the building; they created a safe, enveloping, protective atmosphere.
building that is used in public space (market)

Agora

was a central spot in ancient Greek city-states. The literal meaning of the word is "Gathering place" or "Assembly". The agora was the center of athletic, artistic, spiritual and political life of the city
Part of Greek architecture= the meeting place or marketplace that was usually surrounded by buildings

Theatre
Archaic Period
600-480 BC
Greek architecture, no theatres if no hills.
Everyone sits on hills and gets to see
More religius plays to god, (tragedies, comedies)
Romans take the greek theatre and make it into a collosseum

Temple
Archiac Period
600-480 BC
Early ones made of wood and didn't survive, so made of limestone or marble. Began to follow ex. of Egyptian columnar halls. Altars were outside the temple at the east end, where worshippers worshiped. Temple housed the cult statues, GODS, not followers. Has a pointed roof so the water doest collects
Close to Megaron, only the priest is allowed in. Platformm, colonnde, superstructure, painted decoration

Doric Order
Decoration place in parts that had no strucutral function ie metope and pediments.
Translation into stone of earlier timber archiecture
Is a basic structure, triglyph is three lines and metope= where sculpture is pute to define the temple
Has a fluted flat base

Ionic Order
volute, looks like eyes
Has a base and doesnt just sit on the floor, also has a frieze section

Corinthian Order
Based on the acanthus leaf (weed that was deep dark green)
Basket was thrown in a field, great design
First used for INSIDE support
Named after city of Corinth where king saw goblet with leaves

Temple of Hera I and II Paestum
Archaic Period
600-480 BC
Hera I (Basilica) is a doric temple which was probably for a male god that doesnt have a pedamental structure. Has swelling column and bulbous top, as well as many columns. Frieze, pediment, and all of roof ha banished. (9 columns)
Hera II- Modeled closely on the shrine of Zeus. Has 6 columns, statues filled both pediments and six metopes. Has superimpoed columns that supported roof

Temple of Artemis- Pediment Sculpture
Archaic Period
600-480 BC
Main person is Medusa, ugly gorgon who if you looked at turns you to stone. Left and right are two great felines- temple guardians. Winged horse Pegasus on right and human Chrysaor on left (her children that sprang from head when Perseus severed it with sword). Then Zeus with thunderbolt and dead giant, and tucked in the corner are Trojan horses. It's a doric temply.Hair is snakes, demon wih woman body and bird wings, she's always running and has her tongue sticking out.
One of earliest stone temple in Greece and lavishly embelished with sculpture.

Temple of Aphaia at Aegina
Archaic Period
600-480 BC
Both are dying warriors, yet they're still smiling. West one has an arrow through him while the other on the East is on his way down. Second one is more muscualr and has a helmet, beard, and shield. The posture of the east pediment has a more natral posture and he knows that death is inevitable, but he still tries to rise. He does not look out to specator but conecerned with his pain.
Two statuettes belong to different eras, the later is not a creation of Archaic world, but of the classical world, where statues move as human and possess self conciousness.

Black Ware
Archaic Period
600-480 BC
Greatest work of Exekias is an amphora, which he signed as both painter and potter. He does not place his figures in bands but stature in a single large frame panel. (Achilles and Ajax playing dice)
Very calm, not much movement (women painted white)

Red Ware
Archaic Period
600-480 BC
figures were painted in red, not as stiff. Much more complicated, more movement.
Depicts details and humanity, also creates three dimensional figures that occupy space

Francois Vase
Archaic Period
600-480 BC
Francois krater that is a masterpiece of early black figure painting. Named for the excavter who uncovered it in Atruscan grave. Has voluted shaped handles and the whole vase is about the wedding of Achilles parents. More than 200 figures in six registers. Names humans, animals, and some inanimate objects. Everyone is coming to wedding, all great guest and gods are there. Most battles with centaur (mans negative self).
The bottom section is both orientalizing with animals and sphinxes, and geometric. The potter and decorater are named.

Kritios Boy- Sculpture
Early/ High Classical Period
480- 450 BC
Name is from sculpture himself. This figure has contrapasso stance. Can tell its a copy because of the struts that stick out, held arms in place so they dont fall off. Greek= bronze, Roman= marble.
Sculpture takes on movement, more acute observation of real people doing real things. More realistic muscle placement, smile but not like Archaic one. Head also turns to right and tilts breaking the unwritten rule of frontality.

Contrapposto
Early/ High Classical Period
480- 450 BC
Humans shift their weight and the position of the main body part is vertical, but the axis of the spine is flexible. Youth has slight dip to the right hip, so shifts weight onto the left leg. The right leg is bent at ease. Shift in weight = counterbalance, which separates Classical from Archaic

Charioteer
Early/ High Classical Period
480- 450 BC
First piece we look at in bronze. He is early classical, contrapossto. Shows movement because the feet go one way and the body goes another. He hold the reigns and has cloths of charioteer.
Has headband, not smiling, less archaic. Commemorates victory of Polyzalos of Delphi. Moment of depiction is after the race, when the driver modestly holds his horses in the winners circle. Folds emphasize calm of the figure and recall the flutes of the Greek column.

Riace Warrior
Early/ High Classical Period
480- 450 BC
Found in water off coast of Italy. 2 were found, made of bronze, six feet tall. Free standing and contrapassto stance. Curly hairdo, muscular form.
Lack shield, spear,and helmet. Masterpice of hollow- casting with inlaid eyes, silver teeth and eyelashs, and copper lips and nipples. Arms are freed from the body. Pieces fitted together then soltered.

Spear Bearer (Doryphoros)
Artist: Polykleitos
Early/ High Classical Period
480- 450 BC
Roman marble copy of Greek bronze because of struts. Standing by tree trunk so marble doesn't break off.
Poly was a sculpturer who wrote on the treaty on canon of proportions. This is a natural look, no archaic smile. He is a model of Roman athletes. Ideal statue of nude male athlete/ warrior. Left arm held a spear. "Harmony of opposites", motion at rest, asymmetrical balance= essence of Poly style.

Discus Thrower (Diskobolos)
Artist: Myron
Early/ High Classical Period
480- 450 BC
Contropossto but serious movement, caught him right at the wind-up. Knees twisted and turning, arms and head twisted, one of the games of the Olympics. Tree trunk supports weight of stone statue and struts between arms and body to strengthen weak points.
Vigorous action statue, Suggests tension of coiled spring. Face remains expressionless and head is turned away from the spectator, concentrates on task at hand.

Zeus (Or Poseidon)
Early/ High Classical Period
480- 450 BC
Thunderbolt is possibly missing from his hand, realistic w/ facial features like the Riace Warrior.
Male human form in motion, early bronze statue. Also found in an ancient shipwreck. Right hand is raised off ground, underscores lightness and stability of hollow cast statues.

Pericles
High Classical Architecture Period
450- 400 BC
Persian warriar that pulls evertyhing together and defeats persians. Athenian and says he will build temple to Athena for helping with defeat.
Took everyones money to build himself, realistic, helmet on top. Creates Golden day of Greece (Glory days)

Acropolis

A citadel or fortified part of an ancient Greek city, typically built on a hill.
The ancient citadel at Athens, containing the Parthenon and other notable buildings.
HIGHEST POINT OF CITY

Iktinos and Kallikrates

Architects of Parthanon
Perfect proportions and it s the ideal solution to the greek architechts quest to protect perfect proportions in doric temple design.
Well spaced columns, slender shafts are ultimate refinements of the bulging and squat Doric columns.

Parthenon Design and Decorations
High Classical Architecture Period
450- 400 BC
Had pedamental sculptures, metophs, statues of Athena, and frieze = perfect.
Taller thinner, more graceful columns.
Unity of decorative program

Athena
High Classical Architecture Period
450- 400 BC
Athena= made of ivory and 2500 lb of gold, in cella. Goddess that was protected by snake; has 6 ft tall Nike in hand.

East pediment of Parthenon
High Classical Architecture Period
450- 400 BC
East= birth of Athena, West= battle w/ Poseidon. Athena wins battle, Helios Sun, chariot horse rising from pediment floor, Greek hero, then two figures mother and daughter (persephone and Demetan) Isis god who brings good info. Wet drapery then goddes of evening w/ chariot. Aphrodite, etc

Entasis

A slight convexity or swelling, as in the shaft of a column, intended to compensate for the illusion of concavity resulting from straight sides.

Caryatid of Erechtheion
High Classical Architecture Period
450- 400 BC
Captive slave female that is to hold up the building forever. 6 of them, south porch of Erechthein. Have right leg out, 3 have left out. Made of marble; sturdy.
Gown is column like, elaborate hairdo. Caryatids replaced ionic columns.

Nike
High Classical Architecture Period
450- 400 BC
Ionic temple, refernces frieze with battle against persians. Has wet drapery, it's a relief
Ordinary event that she would be adjusting her sandal, awkward posture rendered elegant and graceful

Porch of Maidens
High Classical Architecture Period
450- 400 BC
South side of Erechthion, 6 of them, 3 with right leg out, 3 with left leg out

Aphrodite of Knidos
Artist: Praxiteles
Late Classical Sculpture
400-320 BC
Placed in middle, men fell in love with her. She's not erotic, covering self. Taking robe off to take bath (modest)
First time a women is portrayed nude, sensualess, more feeling/ human. When it came out was shocking

Hermes and the infant Dionysos
Artist: Praxiteles
Late Classical Sculpture
400-320 BC
longer, thinner and has s curve to it. Has a human connection, probably holding grapes so Dionysos can reach to it, Serious strut= Roman marble copy
Humanizing the gods, Classical Idealism. Tender and very human interaction between adult and child, real world appearances rather than idealized

The Scraper
Artist: Lysippos
Late Classical Sculpture
400-320 BC
Academic games put oil on then put dirt on, then scrape all that off.
Realism, male specimen has attributes cover= Vatican Breaks dominance of frontal view and encourages observer to look at dif angles

Alexander the Great

Hellenistic Sculpture
320-30 BC
Conquered most of the known world, when he died empire was so vast not on person could contol, ALWAYS recognizable with lion like hair
Lysippos was only one who captured his essense in a portrait, so only one allowed to sculpt kings image
Provides insight to kings personality and art of Lysippios

Alexander the Great, Darius III: Battle of Issus Mosaic
Hellenistic Sculpture
320-30 BC
When he conquered Persians at Issus. Defeated Darius, this is in the moment. Alexander has Medusa on chest with spear pointed.
Found in floor of Pompeii. Stones/ glass cut to desired size and shape. Alexander goes into battle w/o helmet. Darius looks at Alex in pathetic gesture, LIGHT AND SHADOW

Stag Hunt from Pella
Artist: Gnosis
Hellenistic Sculpture
320-30 BC
Finest pebble mosaic, has intricate floral pattern and stylized wave motif.
Earliest mosaicists sig. known. Light figures against a dark ground is common to red figure painting. Musculature of hunters modeled by shading (shadow painting)

Altar of Pergamon
Hellenistic Sculpture
320-30 BC
Captures a moment, dramatic and intense. Altar dedicated to Zeus, left
Scultupre almost in the round, in memory of Father. Battle of Zeus and gods against giant, most extensive rep. to depict that epic conflict for control of the world

Gallic chieftain killing wife and himself
Hellenistic Sculpture
320-30 BC
Taking his life after he takes his wifes who would have been sold as a slave. Defiantly drives sword into own chest below collarbone. Gauls intense expressive face and powerful body to womans limp body. Emotional intensity of suice
Very dramatic, knows they lost. You can see blood. Right at the moment when everything is changing. Nobility in defeat

Dying Gallic Trumpeter
Hellenistic Sculpture
320-30 BC
Gallic because jewelry around neck= torque, as well as busy hair and mustache. Warrior that has no uniform. Collapses on shield as blood pours from chest, stares at ground with pain expression on face, bulging veins
Has been stabbed, trumpeter, last moments. Baroque style, twisting posture, theatrical gesture, emotional instensity

Nike of Samothrace
Hellenistic Sculpture
320-30 BC
Part of complex piece that is on front of ship. Getting ready to land, twisting so she lands upright. Beautiful wings/ drapery.
Mosst greek sculptures dont have head, body and movement you look at. Displayed in fountain, has a theatrical effect, illusion of waves crashing on prow of ship. Aural dimension to visual drama (sound of splashing water). Seems living/ breathing figure

Laocoon and His sons
Hellenistic Sculpture
320-30 BC
One of first pieces in Vatican museum, shows every muscle in movement. Greek priest that offended god, told compatriots to be wary of bearing gift so Poseiden sent two serpents to attack him and his sons. Everyone is being attacked by serpents. (Gods favored greeks in war against Troy)
Michelangelo inspiration. Agony of snakes attacking you, very descriptive. Suffering, torment, pain

Old market Woman
Hellenistic Sculpture
320-30 BC
Has nice gown, hairdo was orderly. Bringing food to sell in marketplace, wrinkled face, body is bent, spirit if broken by lifetime of poverty. Carries on because must, not because she has pleasures in life
Realism=Hellenistic work, simple-> complex, stiff -> Loose. Opposite of classical idealism, old woman from lowest rungs of social order. Reflects different social climate

Aphrodite of Melos- Venus of Milo
Hellenistic Sculpture
320-30 BC
6 ft tall, found in Milo. Undressing of Aphrodite become norm. She's larger than lifesize and the base is signed by sculpture. Grasped edge of drapery to stop it from slipping down further
More modestly drapped, but also more sexual. Right hand would have had an apple that Paris gave her when judged most beautiful woman of all. Openly explored eroticism of the nude female form