CLCV 1002 Lecture : Greek Architecture.docx
Document Summary
Pheidias, the most famous sculptor of his day, was in charge of the building project. No straight lines on building, every single block is unique. 3 elemants of decoration on parthenon: the pediment filled with marble sculpture; the doric frieze (marble sculpture done in high relief), and ionic frieze (low relief sculpture, no breaks between different scenes unlike doric frieze) Themeof decoration= triumph of order and civilization over chaos and barbarism. Can"t depict human events on temple, must depict gods or mythology. Message that athens represents the highest form of greek civilization. East pediment shows the birth of athena myth. Placed within a cosmic setting: sun god on right, moon goddess on left. How they competed to be patron deity of. Poseidon strikes rock and salt spring flows out, athena strikes earth and out flows the first olive tree. Style of sculpture is innovative: wet t-shirt style drapery. Drapery is more revealing their body than hiding it.