Aegean Art

Cycladic- (2,800 BCE) no cutaways, boxy/geometric shapes, figurines of nude females with their arms folded across their chest, symmetrical and plain looking

Minoan- (2,000 BCE) better definition, squiggly/organic shapes, frescos large focus on bulls and sea creatures, Palace at Knossos (labyrinth of the Minotaur) “Snake Goddess, shows male and female fertility”

Mycenaean- (1,400 BCE) Move to casting gold—shows wealth, elaborate sculptures, more detail and better proportions, architecture came close to having arches, influenced by Egyptians and Minoans

Aegean ArtCrete, to the south of the Cyclades, became dominant in the Aegean Sea and its islands. The prosperity of this civilization, named Minoan after the legendary King Minos, is evident in the construction of the palaces at Knossos, Phaistos, and Mallia. These first palaces were all damaged in about 1700bc, and were rebuilt.

Fresco fragment with hunting scene, from the palace at Tirynsc. 1250BC

Snake GoddessFaience statuette from Knossosc. 16OObcArchaeological Museum, Heraklion,CreteThe goddess carries apanther or a leopard onher headdress

Jar with floral decoration, Knossos, 1450-1400bc

Seated HarpistMarble statue from Keros, Cyclades, c.2300bcNational Museum, AthensThe cleanness of line in this and other pieces has influenced artists in modern times

Lily-Prince, painted relief plaster from the palace at Knossos, c. 1425bc.

Remains (extensively restored) of a lustral basin from the palace at Knossos

Head of a charging bull, detail of painted relief from Knossos, c. 1600bc. Archaeological Museum, Heraklion, Crete

THE BULL AND THE OCTOPUS

Aegean art, from its earliest days on Crete and the Cyclades. only seldom featured grandiose or overtly royal figures - more the norm in the Near East. However, mythological, symbolic, and ritual concepts permeated every aspect of daily life. One regularly depicted symbol was the bull - featured in the abduction of Europa by Zeus, and as the father of the Minotaur on Pasiphaë, queen to Minos. The animal may-have stood for the more remote figure of the god-king, its horns used to mark out the sacredness of a place. In later Greek myth, the Titaness Metis (or Counsel) assisted Zeus in administering the potion by which Cronos was made to disgorge Zeus' siblings. Zeus dethroned his father and took Metis for consort. Alarmed by a prophecy that a second, male child would depose him, Zeus swallowed the pregnant Metis by trickery. Eventually, his daughter Athene was born fully-formed. The octopus, being apparently a large head with many arms and being able to change colour at will, became a symbol for the divine wisdom of the two goddesses and stood for clear thinking.

Wall-painting on lime plaster15oo bc

Dagger blade with decoration showing a lion hunt, Mycenae, c. 1550bc

Gold Agamemnon mask, Mycenae, c. 1500BC

GREEK Terracotta H: 13.7 cm From Thessaly (between Volos and Lamia) - found in a well Early Neolithic 6th millennium B.C.

GREEK Marble H: 8.5 cm Allegedly from Thessaly Late Neolithic Early 4th millennium B.C.

Mycenaean

GREEK Terracotta H: 12.8 cm Provenance: no indication; Central Greece? Late Mycenaean III B? 14th-13th century B.C.?

GREEK Bronze H: 6.4 cm Allegedly from the Cyclades Sub-Mycenaean/Proto-Geometric? 1150-1000 B.C.?

Lion Gate,1300-1250 BC

Cycladic

GREEK Marble H: 10.2 cm. W: 12.1 cm (with handles) Provenance: no indication; Syros ? Early Cycladic II, Keros-Syros Culture 2700-2300 B.C.

GREEK Marble H: 13.4 cm. L: 17.4 cm Provenance: no indication; Anatolia or Cyclades? Early Bronze Age II/Early Cycladic II 2700-2300 B.C.

GREEK Bronze H: 5.7 cm Provenance: no indication; mountain sanctuary on the Iuktas? Neo-Palatial I, MM III 1700-1580 B.C.

Minoan

GREEK Bronze H: 9.45 cm (with tang: 11.15 cm) Allegedly from the port of Knossos (Poros) Neo-Palatial, LM Ib c. 1500-1450 B.C.

GREEK Silver Weight: 51.86 g. H: 2.7 cm. L: 3.7 cm Allegedly from Tylissos Knossos Palace Style, MM IIIb-LM Ia 1600-1500 B.C.

The Origins of Greek Art, the Bronze Age, and the Geometric Style (3200-720 BC)

Corinthian plastic vase in the form of a drinkerArchaic Period, Middle Corinthian style, c. 580-570 BC.

This figurine of a komast—a banqueter holding a skyphos formerly known as "the drinking satyr"—is actually a trick vase. Thanks to the potters' skill and knowledge of the basic principles of physics, this vase was both a source of amusement and a miraculous fountain of wine—a true marvel of Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry (komos). The figure and its base are hollow; the wine could be made to appear or disappear in the skyphos by means of a clever system of holes.

Black figure lekythosArchaic Period, c. 500 BC

Attributed to Running Man (or Satyr) PainterAmphora with trifid neck and handlesArchaic period, c.550-540 BC

Corinthian helmetCirca 650-625 BC

KourosCirca 575-570 BC

AnonymousCorinthian Aryballos in the Shape of an OwlCirca 640 BC

Corinthian Aryballos in the Shape of an Owl

The stylized mask-like face of this little owl is nonetheless extraordinarily expressive. Only 5 cm tall, it served as a perfume-holder (aryballos), as indicated by its inner reservoir, the spout and the holes in its base for cords from which it could be suspended. It derives its charm from the perfect mastery of its molded shape and decorative elements - line drawing, black varnish and colored highlights.

Corinthian Aryballos in the Shape of an Owl

The stylized mask-like face of this little owl is nonetheless extraordinarily expressive. Only 5 cm tall, it served as a perfume-holder (aryballos), as indicated by its inner reservoir, the spout and the holes in its base for cords from which it could be suspended. It derives its charm from the perfect mastery of its molded shape and decorative elements - line drawing, black varnish and colored highlights.

Corinthian column kraterCirca 600 BC

Ionian "Wild Goat" oenochoe reflecting the Oriental influencePeriod of Oriental influence, circa 640-630 BC

Head of a female statue of the "idol with crossed arms" typeCirca 2700-2300 BC

Creteca. 1600 BCE

ca. 1250 BCE The Lion Gate with Cyclopeian walls. Exterior view

ca. 2400 BCE

Cycladic (Spedos-type) Figure

Ancient Greece

Geometric Dipylon Amphora (with Prothesis)

Date: 8th c. BCE

600 BCE

Metropolitan Kouros

'Peplos' Kore (with traces of color)

530 BCE

Kritios Boy

480 BCE

Diskobolos. Roman Copy

460 BCE - 450 BCE

Creator(s): Myron of Thebes

460 BCE

Creator(s): Kalamis

Poseidon Doryphoros. Roman Copy

Creator(s): Polykleitos

Date: ca. 450 BCE - 440 BCE

Wounded Amazon with Empty Right Hand Raised

mid 5th c. BCE Date: ca. 410 BCE

Funerary Stele of the Athenian Woman Hegeso Proxeno

Archaic Temple of Apollo

Date: mid 6th c. BCE

The Agora with barrel-vault shop (?)

The Parthenon

Parthenon, seen from NE from below Acropolis, with Corinthian column in foreground

Detail of W front: pediment with sculpture, entablature, upper portion of column

Classical

447 BCE - 432 BCE City/Site: AthensCountry: Greece

Temple of Athena Nike 425 BCE - 423 BCE City/Site: AthensCountry: Greece

Classical

Nike Tying Her Sandal

ca. 410-407 BCE

City/Site: Athens, Acropolis, Temple of Athena NikeCountry: Greece

Classical 360 BCE - 350 BCE

Theater, Epidauros

City/Site: EpidaurosCountry: Greece

Erechtheion

City/Site: Athens, AcropolisCountry: Greece

ca. 421-405 BCE

Praxiteles (active ca. 375-340 BCE) , Greek

Aphrodite

Aphrodite, called Venus of Arles

AphroditeApollo Sauroktonos Apollo [Lizard Killer]

Artemis Diana of Gabii Dionysos Dionysos, called the 'Richelieu Bacchus'

Hermes with the Infant Dionysus

Hellenistic ca. 200 BCE City/Site: Samothrace

Country: Greece

Nike (Victory) of Samothrace

Boy with the Goose (Boy Strangling the Goose)

Sleeping Eros ca. 240-200 BCE

Capitoline She-wolf

ca. 450 BCE

Etruscan

Chimera of Arezzo. Mythical creature with lion's body and three heads (lion, goat, serpent) first half of 4th c. BCE

Sarcophagus of a Married Couple

ca.530-510 BCE terra cotta

Imperial (Roman) ca. 118-128 BCE Hadrian's Villa at Tivoli.

Markets of Trajan Imperial (Roman)

107 - 114 CE

Creator: Apollodoros of Damascus (died ca. 125 CE) , Roman

The Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheater) 72-80 CE City/Site: RomeCountry: Italy

Pont du Gard late 1st c. CE City/Site: Nimes (near)Country: France

Maison Carrée City/Site: NimesCountry: France begun ca. 19 BCE

Pantheon

View of the interior with oculus

Interior detail: wall decoration with pediments over niches

13 BCE - 9 BCE Ara Pacis Augustae City/Site: RomeCountry: Italy

General view of the long right side, with procession of the Imperial family, meander frieze, and lavish acanthus dado. The damaged Emperor Augustus is just visible at the left

The middle panel (The first largely destroyed, probably was of lictors preceding the Emperor). Augustus at the left, followed by three flamines maiores, sacrificial priests.

second panel of left long side: Senators and high magistrates. The central veiled figure may be the "pontifex maximus"

Column of Trajan 106 - 113 City/Site: RomeCountry: Italy

section before band 1, w timber fortifications, stored mats of logs, and stored hay; band 1, with procession before Trajan;

Romans Crossing the Danube and Building a Fort

substructure of the column, with trophies of war between Romans and Dacians; base of column, bands 1-3'

Arch of Titus CE 81 City/Site: RomeCountry: Italy

Detail of entablature and arch

East side detail of inscription, cornice, & Winged Victories in spandrels Spoils of Jerusalem. Relief Panel

Triumph of Titus. Relief Panel

Arch of Constantine 315 CE City/Site: RomeCountry: Italy

Total view from South. Colosseum at right

partial view of narrow E face with emperor in battle in attic relief, Apollo emerging from the sea on a quadriga, and Constantine's triumphal entry

Equestrian Monument to Marcus Aurelius r. 161-180 City/Site: Rome, CampidoglioCountry: Italy

Monumental Portrait Head of Constantine (and other remains of full-length ca. 315-330

sculpture)

Dionysiac Mystery Frieze. Room 5 of Villa of the Mysteries

mythological and other female figures Fresco of initiation rites, with entrance to room at left

Dionysos and women to his left Frescos in corner opposite entrance.

Early ChristianEncaustic on wood

middle of 3rd c. CE

Mummy Portrait of a Young Man

Early Christian and Byzantine Art Mausoleum of Costantia, called "Santa Costanza"

ca. 337-351 City/Site: RomeCountry: Italy

4th c. Mosaics in Ambulatory Vault: Harvesting of Grapes

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia

c425 - c450

Christ as the Good Shepherd in Galla Placidia ca.425 mosaic

RavennaCountry: Italy

Byzantine

Church of San Vitale

521-547

City/Site: RavennaCountry: Italy

portal, pilaster capital & entablature with inscription

Renaissance Portal of the Rectory, 2nd half, 15th c. with columns and marble portico

Mosaics in San Vitale

Justinian and Attendants from the N Wall of the Apse

Theodora and Attendants from the S Wall of the Apse

ca. 547

Left lunette of the Presbytery of San Vitale: Episodes of Abrahams's life

Right lunette of the Presbytery of San Vitale: Sacrifices of Abel and Melchizedec

Hagia Sophia (the Church of Divine Wisdom) 532-537 City/Site: IstanbulCountry: Turkey

Elevated view toward apses with ring of clerestory windows above (scaffolding at left)

General interior view, with colonnade, arches, gallery, pendentive, portion of dome

elaborate column capital & entablature block