The sculpture of ancient Greece which existed from 800 BC to 300 BC got its inspiration from middle eastern monumental art and Egyptian art respectively. This with time gradually evolved into a unique vision of Greek art. Greek artists eventually reached a high point of artistic quality of working with the human figure that took the world by surprise, a style and method that was later copied by the romans and subsequent eras. Greek artists were very particular about the idealized perfection of the human body, proportion and elegance. Their figures in bronze and stone have become the most noticeable by any civilization.
Starting from the 8th century, the production of figures in ancient Greece with materials such as bronze, ivory and clay were on a high surge. Other materials such as wood was also commonly used, but wood had the disadvantage of wearing away by erosion. This meant that most of the art pieces/sculptures made with the material didn’t survive through centuries. Art figures such as bronze figures, human heads and mostly cats (lions, tigers, jaguars etc.) were used were used as attachments to to some bronze vessels. In terms of style, these human figures look like the figures in pottery designs in modern day sculptures, having a triangular torso and quite elongated limbs. Animal figures were also made in enormous amounts, specifically the horse, and a lot of them have been found across Greece at sanctuary sites such as Olymphia and Delphi, showcasing their unique objectives as intentional offerings.
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Modern expertise recognizes three major of a Greek sculpture – the Hallenistic period, the Archaic period and the Classical period. Although bronze was mostly the preferred material, porous limestone was sometimes used also. Aside from limestone, another precious stone of choice was marble. In cases of limestone and marble being used, the sculptures were brightly, mostly all in white. But as thousands of years passed by, these bright white paints wore of, they got dusty and dirty, with weather and wind conditions being the main factors.
A typical example of a bronze figure is the Artemision Bronze, which is said to be either Poseidon or Zeus. The statue stands more than 2 meters in height. It was found in 1928 off the cape of Artemisium by a group of fishermen. The fact that the figure is missing a thunderbolt has created serious debates as to whether it is Zeus or not, some think this missing information rules out its possibility of being Zeus altogether. At the same time, the possibility of it being Poseidon is also ruled out due to its missing trident. This statue represents the work of a highly skilled and talented sculptor from its time because it showcases elegant rendering rendition of motion and anatomy. It was estimated to have been constructed in 460BCE. It currently resides in the national archaeological museum in Athens.
The Moschophoros is a good example of a sculpture made from marble. The Moschophoros means ‘the calf bearer’. It was discovered in fragments in the Perserschutt (Persian debris or Persian rubble) in the Acropolis of Athens. In its original form, the figure is estimated to have been 1.65 meters in height. Apparently, the statue is said to have been a votive offering to the goddess Athena by a particular Rhonbos according to the inscription on the base of the statue. The figure itself is thought to represent the Rhonbos itself presenting the lamb sacrifice with a smiling face to the goddess. Constructed in 570BCE, its currently in the Acropolis Museum in Athens.
An incredible and famous example of a Greek sculpture made from marble is the Winged Victory of Samothrace. Made in 200BC, the sculpture portrays the goddess Nike. The Winged Victory of Samothrace is referred to as the greatest masterpiece of Hellenistic sculpture currently today and is also one of the most celebrated original statues in the world. When it was originally created, it wasn’t meant to celebrate the goddess Nike herself but to celebrate a battle. Macedonian general Demetrius had the figure erected after his naval victory in Cyprus. The transparency of the drapery reveals the nude female body, similar to the style used in classical works back from the fifth century BC. The cord below the breasts on the other hand, resembles a clothing style that was quite common in the early fourth century. The artist responsible was very skillful as well, being able to achieve effects of a flowing drape amongst other interesting visual effects. The Winged Victory of Samothrace is currently held in the Louvre Museum in Paris.
‘Lacoon and His Sons’ is an exemplary of a well detailed marble sculpture, is a copy of another Hellenistic sculpture from ca. 200BC. It was originally created by three Greek sculptors who hailed from the island of Rhodes, Agesander, Polydorus and Athenodoros. This mighty life-size figure illustrates a Trojan priest named Lacoon who is together with his sons Antiphantes and Thymbraeus being choked by some serpents. This figure is considered to be one of the finest of Hellenistic works in ancient Greek tradition, however the work is still not a hundred percent sure to be an original or a copy from an earlier sculpture in the earlier times. The statue is currently situated in the Vatican Museum in Rome.
Ancient Greek sculptures are not only known for their fine details and the smooth textures obtained from the incredible materials. The male figures were fetishized, they represented imposing figures with rippling muscles, sometimes they appeared half covered with cloth or in most cases, bare naked. To an average person their bodies look quintessential, except for one small detail, they have relatively small penises compared to the average male figure, usually also flaccid. Modern historians have pondered on why the ancient Greeks chose to portray the male genitals in a small size, but apparently dating back to around 400BC, a huge and erect penis were not enticing, neither were they a symbol of power and strength. A curious historian by the name Paul Chrystal carried out the research on this topic and came up with the conclusion stating that “the small penis was consonant with Greek ideals of male beauty”. He further adds in one of his books that “it was a badge of the highest culture and a paragon of civilization”. According to ancient Greek mythology, immoral and lustful satyrs were illustrated with very large and erectile genitals, these creatures were said to be half human and half animal. In ancient Greek comedy as well, the fools were thought to have large penises, the same picture was painted of the Egyptians in the eyes of the Greek, since they were long term enemies.
In conclusion, Greek sculptures laid the foundation for the fabrication of human figures for a long time before other eras evolved, paving the way and inspiring later generations on the analysis of the human body, using proportion and other form of mathematics. Contemporary artists and historians alike have spent much of their lives and careers researching and looking into ancient Greek works, while more of them are still being discovered and excavated all around the world today.
References
- http://www.dailyartmagazine.com
- https://www.ancient.eu
- https://www.artsy.net
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