Eric Moore
Art History I
10/29/18
Essay #1
Connect the philosophy and religion of the ancient Greeks to their values in art and architecture. Provide a minimum of five relevant examples, accurately citing the title, artist or region, medium, size, date, and location. Describe in your own words the thought processes evident in the work that are inspired by the philosophy and religion from the time.
Philosophy and Religion shape the Greek culture and through their temples, sculptures, and pottery the Greeks showed their way of life. Much of Greek art and architecture was meant to honor the gods. The greatest was the Parthenon(Iktinos and Kallikrates (Phidias directed the sculptural program), Parthenon, Acropolis, Athens, 447 - 432 B.C.E.) This temple was built to honor the goddess Athena. The temple’s ratio of the width of the building the number and space between columns was designed utilizing mathematical formulas. The architect concept was based on the philosopher Pythagoras of Samos, who believed that beauty resided in harmonic numerical ratios. Another connection of philosophy and religion to Greek architecture is the Basilica Paestum(Paestum, Italy, ca 550B.C.E.). This temple was a shrine to the goddess Hera. The temple architect utilized an 1:2 ratio, even though this temple had unusual features and was perhaps designed for two statues instead of one. This temple was an example of the Doric order. The Mantiklos Apollo(8” bronze sculpture, ca. 700-680B.C.E., Thebes, Boston Museum of Fine Arts) is a bronze sculpture dedicated to Apollo. This statue shows the artist values, religion and philosophical beliefs as a message is scratched on the piece stating "Mantiklos offers me as a tithe to Apollo of the silver bow; do you, Phoibos, give some pleasing favor in return."
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