A powerful and expensive sculpture of Ancient Greece

The whole world knows about the religious beliefs of the ancient Greeks. Memories of this have survived not only in the image of legends and myths, but also in the material form of temples and sculptures, or rather, their remains. After so much time, not all memos managed to be saved, but some we know from ancient Roman counterparts. The sculpture of Ancient Greece was distinguished for its splendor and wealth.

Early development of ancient Greek sculpture

We will find out who was immortalized as sculptures, who was awarded such an honor? Since the ancient peoples, and not only the Greeks, were inveterate pagans, and attached great importance to their faith, they depicted only the gods.

Sculptures of Ancient Greece, until the 6th century BC. E., Created from expensive materials, such as marble, ivory, dressed the gods only in gold clothes. What did the Greeks do to appease Olympus!

Ancient Greece, whose sculpture already in the 7th-6th century BC. E. Reached significant peaks, was the cultural center of the ancient world. It is only necessary to recall the architectural structures in the form of temples, and some of them were included in the list of Seven Wonders of the World (the famous columns from the temple of Artemis in Ephesus). Let us return to the ancient Greek immortalization of the gods, which in the early days were portrayed majestically, in full growth. They seemed to be frozen in a straight pose, no unnecessary movements or dismemberment should have been. Here, too, the sculpture of Hera from the island of Samos, 560 BC, stands still and regal. E., Which is now stored in the Louvre.

It is remarkable that the gods were always portrayed as beautiful. What are they, these gods? Beauty for the Greeks meant power. Elegance and wasp waist were still not known canons of beauty. That's why the inhabitants of Olympus were portrayed in large sizes, with a strong body, inflated with arms and legs, huge eyes, head, lips.

Do you remember the statue of Zeus Olympic, one of the Seven Wonders of the World? Its size is confirmed by the fact that the supreme god must be more beautiful than the others and be larger. The statue itself was built of ivory, and clothes "sewed" for Zeus from no less expensive material - gold. This sculpture of Ancient Greece, unfortunately, has not survived to our days, although we know what it looks like, according to the reconstruction and development of archaeologists, historians and sculptors. And in ancient times, this statue was revered, even sacrificed, so that Zeus protected the people from natural disasters and the displeasure of other gods.

Late Sculpture of Ancient Greece

From the 5th century BC. E. The image of straight-sitting or frozen sculptures in a straightened pose ceased. The sculpture of Ancient Greece has changed significantly. Firstly, not only the gods were to be depicted, but also heroes, warriors, that is, ordinary mortals. Secondly, marble and ivory have become a thing of the past, metals, in particular bronze, have gained popularity. Thirdly, the straightened postures and large sizes of parts of the body have outlived their own, the image of nudity has become beautiful. A lightly falling cloak and a loose pose only added to the grandeur of sculpture.

Remember Discobolus or the statue of Venus de Milo from marble, which is still kept in the Louvre. The sculpture of Ancient Greece in the course of time acquired new features, but from this it did not become less majestic. It was admired by the Romans conquered by Greece, they completely adopted their culture and religion, we admire it and we are still.