Early Classical
EARLY CLASSICAL (SEVERE STYLE)
I. Historical Context Persian Wars: 490 (Marathon in Attica) and 480-79 (Thermopylae, Salamis and Plateia). In the
Greek west, the Greeks were fighting the Carthaginians. The western Greeks under the leadership of Gelon (tyrant of
Syracuse) and Theron (tyrant of Akragas [Agrigento]). defeated the Carthaginians in 480 at Himera on the north coast of
Sicily. II. EARLY CLASSICAL: SCULPTURE (480-50)
***Please note that different texts/scholars will have different dates. You should recognize which piece or work is
earlier, that is, be able to establish a relative chronology. Page numbers refer to place in Pedley text.
Free Standing Sculpture
- Kristios and Nesiotes (sculptors): Harmodius and Aristogeiton , the tyrannicides. 477. Roman
copy. Pedley, p. 219
- Myron: Discobolus 450 Roman copy. Pedley, p. 220
- Myron: Athena and Marsyas Roman copy.
- Artemesion Zeus/Poseidon 460-50. Pedley, p. 223
- Riace Bronzes, A and B 460-50 and later. The dating of these bronzes remains problematic.
Brunhilde Ridgway, dates them to a much later period. Most authors, however, includes these statues in their
discussion of fifth century sculpture. Pedley p. 23 and p. 22
- Polyzalos, tyrant of Gela. Statue commonly known as the charioteer of Delphi. 478 or 474 BCE.
Pedley, p. 222
- Motya (Sicily): Charioteer 480-50. Pedley, p. 22
Architectural Sculpture
- Olympia, Temple of Zeus. East Pediment has the Chariot contest, the west has the battle of the Lapiths and
Centaurs. Metopes (over east and west end): the Labors of Herakles. Sculptures date to the 460s with the exception
of the statue of Zeus inside the temple. It is the work of Phidias, one of the most important sculptors of the High
Classical period. Pedley, pp. 200-209
Bibliography: Ridgway, Severe Style Boardman, Greek Sculpture: The Classical Period
III. EARLY CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE
The classical Doric temple was the end result of an evolution of methods and experiments. The Greek architect
thought in terms of modules. That is, the height of a column is so many diameters of the column (measured at its
widest). The distance between the columns is so many diameters, etc. What you have in architecture is a developing
system of proportions, just as one sees in sculpture (particularly classical). The Doric style reaches its apex in the
Parthenon and related buidlings on the Akropolis
--Aegina, Temple of Aphaia (500) --Paestum, Temple of Athena (500) --Syracuse, Temple of Athena (to
celebrate the victory over the Carthaginians) --Paestum, Temple of Hera II (470-60) --Olympia, Temple of Zeus (460)
--Agrigento, Temple of Concord
Bibliography: J.J. Coulton, The Ancient Greek Architect at Work (1977). A classic.
IV. CLASSICAL POTTERY --
Megalographia (Large Scale Painting)
--Metope from the temple of Apollo at Thermon, 630
--Tomb of the Diver from Posidonia (Paestum), 480s; Pedley, pp. 233-35
Little remains of large scale painting. Most of the works were done on boards (wood) which do not wear well.
Pottery, on the other hand, is quite hardy (unless you pulverize it).
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