Greek Art

2 Pages 413 Words

During the classical period, Athenian Dominance greatly affected
architecture. The war between the Greek city-states and Persia (499-480
BCE) interrupted almost all temple building for a generation while the
Greeks concentrated on restoring their defensive walls, civic buildings,
and the fleet. Athens emerged as the leader, controlling the war chest of
the Delian League, Panhellenic league; the city initiated extravagant
program to rebuild the sanctuary of Athena on the Acropolis. The Parthenon,
Propylaea, Temple of Athena Nike, and the Erechtheum were built entirely of
marble and elaborately decorated with carved moldings and sculpture.The
architects were Callicrates and Iotinus, and the chief sculptor was
Phidias. A large school of builders and sculptors developed in Athens
during the second half of the fifth century BCE. Most of these craft
workers were freed slaves from the eastern Mediterranean. Perhaps as a
consequence there developed in Attica a unique blend of the Doric and Ionic
orders seen in the fortified sanctuaries as well as in Athens.
The Corinthian order resulted from long civil wars during the fifth
century BCE (Classical period). The Ionian cities recovered more quickly
from the civil war under Persian sovereignty. The colossal sixth century
BCE temples and altars were replaced on a grander scale. Several Ionian
cities were rebuilt on a grid plan that has been credited to Hippodamus of
Miletus.
The rise of Macedonia and the conquests of Alexander the Great heralded
the Hellenistic period. Old building types became more complex: altars,
gate buildings, council houses, stoas with two or three levels, and
theaters with large attached stage buildings. Many new building types were
introduced, including the nymphaeum, monumental tomb, columned hall,
choragic monument, clock tower and light house. Many of these structures
were decorated with dramatic marble sculpture.

Hellenistic architects ma...