180 Seconds of Art History - Episode 2: Crash Course on Ancient Greece
Channel: Grant Thomas
Date: 2016-07-29

Smart With Art Presents
180 Seconds of Art History
Episode 2: Crash Course on Ancient Greece

Written and Produced by Grant Thomas ( http://grantthomasonline.com )
Video Intro Footage by Vidveo ( http://www.videvo.net/video/blue-and-pink-ink-flows/3762 )
Theme Music by Dave Depper ( http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Dave_Depper/Compositions_3/The_Wonder )

Transcript:
A lot of people only think of the Ancient Greeks as the inventors the Olympics, but they had many artistic accomplishments as well that influenced art for centuries afterward.

The Philosopher, Protagoras claimed: “Man is the measure of all things” so the human body became the central focus of Ancient Greek art.  Sculpture was marked by a celebration of athleticism and strength.  Because of this exaltation of the human form most statues are . . . Naked.

The Greeks made ceramic vessels for all kinds of uses.  Some were used for drinking out of and some were used as storage of food, cosmetics, and perfume.  

There were three periods of vase painting.

In the Geometric period, designs and figures were painted on with black slip.  The figures and animals depicted were very abstract and, as the name implies, were very geometric.

Black figure pottery is what most people think of when they think of Greek ceramics.  Artist would paint large areas of the pot in black slip and scratch away details which revealed the red clay underneath the slip.
 
Finally in the Red Figure period, most of the vase was painted with black slip, except for the area where the figure was depicted.  Details of the figures were now painted on with exquisite detail.

The Greeks worshiped a myriad of gods and had countless temples dedicated to them.  Most temples were made of tall columns with a triangular shape on top called a pediment.  This style of architecture has influenced numerous architects and its influence can still be seen in our buildings. 

The Greeks celebrated the human body in their art and built large temples.  Their influence on art and architecture has lasted long after their civilization fell.