ARCHAIC-EARLY CLASSICAL PERIOD

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History

• Athens, under tyranny in 6th century, becomes a democracy again in 510 B.C.
• Greeks repel two attempts by Persia to invade Europe
  • 490 B.C.: battle of Marathon (Athenian win) against Persian King Darius
  • 480 B.C.: battles of Thermopylae (Spartan loss), Salamis (Athenian win) against Persian King Xerxes--however, Persians invade Athens and burn acropolis
  • 479 B.C.: battle of Platea (Spartan win) ends Persian threat

Material Culture

• Archaic Period: Architectural sculpture
  • appears on Doric and Ionic temples, and on smaller temples or other buildings
    • temple of Artemis at Corfu--pediment with Medusa and her children, 600-580
    • Siphnian treasury at Delphi (Ionic), c. 530
      • caryatids instead of columns; continuous frieze showing battle of gods and giants on North side
    • Athenian treasury at Delphi (Doric), c. 490
      • square metopes with deeds of Herakles, Theseus
      • propaganda--Theseus is Athens' hero; sculptures send message that he's just as good as the great Herakles
        
• transition from Archaic to Classical Period
  • Architectural sculpture
    • temple of Aphaia on Aegina shows the change
      • West pediment dates to 500-490 B.C.
        • stiff poses, stylized expressions (Archaic smile)
      • East pediment to 490-480
        • poses and expressions more natural, less stiff--Classical
  • freestanding sculpture: shows same progress as architectural sculpture
    • Kritios Boy, c. 480
      • turned head, bent knee, no Archaic 'smile' but the solemn expression that gives the name "Severe Style" to the sculpture of the Early Classical period
    • Blond Boy, c. 480--a head also in Severe Style
      
• Early Classical Period, 480-450 B.C. (Severe Style)
  • freestanding sculpture
    • somber, remote expression, short rounded chin, heavy body and drapery
    • several important bronze statues
      • bronze charioteer from Delphi, c. 470
        • unusual that the inset eyes are preserved
      • bronze statue of Zeus or Poseidon, c. 460
      • Riace bronzes, c. 460-450: pair of bronze lifesize statues, with inset eyes, silver teeth, copper lips
    • in most cases we have Roman marble copies of lost bronze originals
      • discobolos (discus thrower) by Myron, c. 450
        • movement, but still within two dimensions
  • architectural sculpture
    • Temple of Zeus at Olympia (Doric), c. 460; sculptor Pheidias
      • metopes: labors of Herakles, on short ends of temple
      • W. pediment: battle of Lapiths and Centaurs, with Apollo in center
      • E. pediment: chariot race between Pelops and Oinomaos