Archaeological Survey to Classical and Hellenistic Greece - Report Example

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY TO CLASSICAL AND HELLENISTIC GREECE Name Institution Date Introduction Archaeological survey refers to the use of different methods that try to understand archaeological sites as well as their wider landscapes. There are various types of survey, for example, a pedestrian survey that incorporates methods such as single person exploration to intensive and multi-disciplinary coverage. On the other hand, remote sensing uses computational analysis and other analysis methods to assess the features of near surface archaeology. The archaeology survey initial step is to define the reach questions in the area that you want to study. Consequently, to get the answers to a research questions the staffs look for archaeological remains and interpret them. The archaeologists use the survey to look and conduct initial studies on archaeological sites. In this sense, the word survey refers to non-destructive inspection on a site to look for any past human use evidence, for example, artifacts, buildings, pottery, and sculpture (Renfrew & Paul 1991). The archaeological survey involves seeking such location and finding out enough about them to come up with a conclusion on whether they contain important information. This paper discusses how archaeology survey has contributed to our understanding of Classical and Hellenistic Greece. The Classical period of ancient Greek refers to 480BC to about 336 BC, during this time Greeks were in conflict with the Kingdom of Persia, King of Macedonian, and Alexander the Great conquered to create an empire that stretched from Greece to Asia Minor. During this period, Greece reached its greatest culturally and political and cultural and thus gained historical significance. Classical Greece is significant because of its influence on all western civilization. Thus, archaeology survey on this period derives data on literature, philosophy, arts, and architecture. Hellenistic Greece is placed in years between 336 and 146 BC during the conquest of the Persian Empire by the Alexander the Great and the establishment of the Roman supremacy. It is also significant because many abrupt changes occurred that altered what had preceded and various elements like religion, philosophy, and literature changed their perspective. Following, this paper will look at the importance of historical sites to archaeology survey with a special focus on classical and Hellenistic Greece. Importance of Historic sites to Archaeological Survey One of the most important components of the archeological survey is the archaeological and historical work in the area. This creates the context for research as well as the justification of protection or data recovery at the site. The main aim of evaluation of a site is to produce a succinct statement of significance, which shows that culture value or artifacts of a place or site. The results are used to come with strategies to manage these sites in future. The survey helps us to identify whether an archaeological resource, site or feature is of cultural value. Sites that have been found to be of significant cultural value, understanding this value is critical because some sites are a nonrenewable resource. For example, environment resources should be preserved for future references. The identified values help to determine which management options are most appropriate. Archaeologists' studies site items such as buildings, pottery, coins, fortifications, farmsteads, and even whole landscapes for the clues they provide about the past. These analyses have to be interpreted using various methods through careful description and categorization of those objects using a series of inferences about the date of the objects and how they were used originally. Moreover, archaeologist seeks to determine the purpose and use of an object, for example, the most commonly used artifact is pottery and was used for many purposes. Classical and Hellenistic Greece The Classical Greece is considered to be the most impressive era of ancient Greek due to its influence on all western civilization. During this time, Athens became the center for ancient world literature, sciences, art, philosophy, and architecture. One of the major themes of Classical Greece is the buildings and architecture of classical Greek cities and sanctuaries as well as images and artifacts that were displayed on them which led to the emergence of Classical Art. The less numerous Greek unified and defeated the Persian Empire and Athens and Sparta came into collision. This age witnessed both Peloponnesian and Persian wars, the rise of Macedon and conquest of Asia by Alexander the Great. Hellenistic Greece was a period of abrupt changes although they did not cut of this period from the classical period. There were an interaction and conflict between the two Mediterranean cultures, Roman Italy and Hellenistic East. As a result, there are abundant materials, visual and written records evidence that provides a detailed understanding of the complex process of acculturation when Rome became more powerful than Mediterranean and the technology off Hellenistic culture became available in Italy. The impact of culture shift is evidence through architecture, art, and lifestyles. The changes that took place during Hellenistic Greece contributed to the continuity of the Classical Times. Elements such as religion, philosophy and literature changed their perspective during Hellenistic but used materials of Classical Greece. According to Bugh (2006), Alexander the Great married Achaemenid royalty princess and at 90 of his companion took brides from Iran. This can be seen as a continuation of traditional Argead policy, where marriage was regarded as a way of consolidation. Furthermore, the Greek city-states continued to exist through both periods; they retained their physical and social entity (Bugh 2006). Therefore, the Hellenistic Greece cannot be regarded as degeneration but rather an evolution by using materials from Classical Greece and transforming to what is known today as Hellenistic. Due to interactions with other people, their perception and understanding of the world changed. Archaeological contributions of Classical and Hellenistic Greece In the Classical period, Greek artists were represented in a way that expresses liveliness regarding sense of clarity, harmony, and permanence. The artists formulated systems of proportion that helped them to achieve this artistic effect and allowed them to reproduce it. On the other hand, Hellenistic art was richly diverse to convey new styles and the image itself. However, Hellenistic artists improved earlier styles by being innovative to make new additions. Other changes included representation of the Greek gods that reflected the increased secularization of traditional religion. The famous ancient Greek art that is significant to archaeology include sculptures, architecture, and pottery. Sculptures The sculpture is one of the most important works in the Classical period of Greece (Pedley 1998). One of the most favorite themes was that of the athlete, a Greek style of portrayal of musculature. Also, the Greek artist undertook the scientific study of a human for the sole purpose of art and found some ratios that informed proportion in their sculptures. The classical period in Greece has a wide range of style and quality evident in the Parthenon's metopes. According to Biers, the sculptors, particularly Polukleitos human forms were idealized with a close-knit musculature, major divisions clearly shown in the body and with close-cropped hair. Also, the sculptures have a tendency to borrow from dramatists that depicted a scene in a series of events. The arrival of the concept rhythmos, a pause within the movement was used to express motion which was first attempted by Pythagoras of Rhegion. Another important feature of classical period was a style known as "severe," which incorporated few ornaments, being austere to match its solemn subject matter. The sculptured face was characterized by hair over the forehead, heavy jaw, full lips and heavy eyelids. One of the most famous innovations in sculpture and the most celebrated statutes of antiquity in the Classical Period was the Athenian Sculptor Praxiteles nude Aphrodite of Knidos. This sculpture broke one of the most tenacious conventions in Greek art, whereby the female figure had been shown covered. The sculpture had a slender proportion and distinctive posture which became hallmarks of Classical period Greek sculpture. Hellenistic sculpture is seen as a development of that of the classical period, and thus are some differences. The rise of new cities and interaction created the demand for more sculptures. Research indicates that this is believed to have been caused by Greek occupation in Macedonia which leads to the new impressions and influences. The classical period was characterized by idealism, and this gave way to realism and role models were observed even in dramatic representations. This is also argued by Aristotle in his poets that a drama must be able to change art in real for the audience to be thrilled and the act to achieve the desired effect. This concept was also evident in sculptures, for example, the boy with the goose and the drunken senior woman. After some time, the sculptures became more dramatic, the ornate and flamboyant, referred to as "Hellenistic Baroque." The sculptures were gigantic, exaggerated borders with an expression of agony on their faces and deep-set eyes (Hayes 1991). Urban Planning and Architecture In Greece, the city of Athens is one of the most significant cultural centers during the Classical period and later become important during Hellenistic age even though the advent of new political centers and cultural forces. During the Classical period, the city of Athens was significant because it could mobilize thousands of army to confront organizational criteria. The city of Athens in Hellenistic period occupied a special place because it examined urban planning, architecture, and art. During the Classical period, the artist developed ratios to ensure that buildings synchronized with the surroundings (John 1993). One of the most significant buildings in this era was the Parthenon. The Parthenon architects included were Ictinus and Callicrates. The temples they designed were usually large of about 102 by 230 ft. It had eight columns on the front and 17 columns along the sides. The cella had two rooms, east, and west. The room one the eastern side stood the famous statue of Athena, Parthenos made of ivory and gold. This goddess monument was built by Athena to Athens and portrays their desire for monuments of unparalleled beauty. Entasis technique was used to build the temple columns; such that the diameter of the column decreased towards the top forming a subtle convex. Its columns were slender with a height of about 5.5 times the diameter. The proportional relationship was determined using a mathematical formula, the Golden ratio. Since optical can make the columns appear askew, therefore, Parthenon's architects applied the entasis technique to ensure that the columns appear perfect from outside. The optical refinement was one of the most impressive features of Parthenon architects. Another important building of this era was the temple of Erechtheum. It hosted the most sacred statue, an ancient wooden image of Athena Polis. The temple was laid in the unusual asymmetrical plan. On the eastern side, there is six column porch mirrored on six Ionic column on the western façade with no porch. The southern porch is smaller than the northern porch which is placed on the western side of that building. However, the irregular plan of the temples was due to the need to incorporate several sacred places of worship. Another monumental structure of the Classical period is Propylaea that served as a gateway to Acropolis. It incorporated features similar to Parthenon. The east and west façade are Doric with the proportion of Parthenon and Ionic columns are taller The Hellenistic period was focused on the regularity of building and towards large roads. A good example of this is Agora, archaeological work, and publication has helped to follow its development. At around 180 BC Agora was spilled into two, the south square from the rest by the huge Middle Stoa. The separation made Agora respond to Aristotelian requirement making it a marketplace. The idea of regularity is proven when South Stoa I and II are aligned the middle parallel to the Middle Stoa. Agora has a systematic shape surrounded by a colonnade, and there are spaced between the buildings. It thus retained classical buildings aspect and still managed to adapt the new demand for regularity in Hellenistic period. The same aspect of this period considered the road that connected Agora with Dipylon. Another important building of the Hellenistic period was the complex of stoa. It was built on the northern side of Acropolis in the same neighborhood with Agoranomeion and Kyrrestos' Solar Clock. However, its part was later used to repair Parthenon and another building in the north similar to "Romeus' Stoa." They were both had a similar style with Attalus and of Eumenes. Other planning interventions include the Stoa of Eumenes and the Garden of the Muses. However, during this period there was the absence of holy complexes. In fact, there were few temples during the Hellenistic period. Furthermore, during this era impressive plastic works in public areas was introduced and combined with the old local tradition that attributed honor through the erection of memorial-honorary monuments. The three most impressive honorary monuments had distinct features including tall, and with a statue of kings of Prtgamum that stood on prismatic pedestals. According to archaeological excavations, the first one stood in front of the Acropolis Propylaea; the second one stood in front of the Stoa of Attalus, and the third one was placed at the northeastern corner of the Parthenon. Most of these monuments are Pergamene origin, which brought their scenographic taste. For example, Stoa of Attalus had a neutral marble front, 1350 square meters arranged in an analogical relationship. Stoa of Attalus Pottery Many changes took place in Greece during the Hellenistic period, after the death of Alexander the great the territory that he had conquered was divided into kingdoms by his successors allowing people from different cultures to interact and this increased art demand to decorate new cities and royal palaces (Biers 1996, The Greek art then changed to reflect the changing society. During Hellenistic period, the most important changes in pottery of Greece involved the desire to match the new ruling class. The trend toward “baroque" detail, and a different inclination toward a simple way of decoration. The old red figure style of the Classical period gave way to new styles and techniques including mould-made relief pottery, which was an imitation of the elite metal vessels. Pottery during this period also imitated a type of tableware known as the Gold Glass bowl. These bowls were made of a thin layer of gold that was made using two fitting glass bowls (Susan, 1982). The gold was then carefully cut and placed, and the end product was very expensive. The bowls had floral designs and this influence Mould-made pottery as well as metal relief bowls. In the Hellenistic period in Greece, pottery painting continued and this lead to the rise of polychrome vases which were more vibrant in color compared to the old red figure from which they originated. In addition to new colors, pottery becomes bolder and included statuettes and three-dimensional accompaniments that were enhanced during the painting of the vases. These vessels, however, were likely used for burial purposes. Apparently, the less colorful pottery still existed as well, which imitated metal vessels such as West Slope Ware from Athens. It was simply decorated with a light painting on a dark surface. Another popular shape was the lagynos, a tall-necked vessel with a single hand for pouring decorated using a dark-on-light color scheme. These new shapes during Hellenistic period copied lavish materials of the new kings, particularly the metal. Hellenistic pottery is a reflection of this period, an invaluable resource for attempting to understand ancient life. The most popular pottery technique in the Classical period of Greece was red-figure pottery; however, it started in Archaic period in 530 BC. In the red-figure style, the background outside was filled in black, thus leaving red figures. The figures details were painted rather than incised; hence this increased flexibility in the representation of human form, expression and movement, which was more satisfactory. This technique suited the Greek pottery which was more narrative rather than decorative. This technique was influenced by the contemporary wall painting techniques, attempts at portraying perspective, diverse facial expression, overlapping of figures and representation of daily life. Below is a red-figure pottery: The vases characteristic during the Classical period are gaudier, which had additional details in white, yellow-brown, gold and blue. The artists emphasized on naturalism and depth perspective that violated the pottery shape intrinsic nature and hence reducing it the vessel as a mere support for painting. The use of painting in red-figure technique was used as it was perceived to be a way of naturally representing emotions, anatomy, and garments. By the end of the classical period, red-figure decoration of pottery declined and died out in Attica (Andrew, Maya, & Mary 2002. The vases were made depending on use, for example, drinking wine or water (kantharos or Kylix), storage of foodstuffs (amphora), collecting water (hydria), and pouring beverages (lekythos) or transporting the bride's water for bathing (loutrophoros). The symbolic decorations provide perceptions about Classical periods. Conclusion The Ancient Greek pottery, sculpture, architecture and pottery are significant during an archeological survey. Greece has gained historical significance due to its connection with important events during Classical and Hellenistic period. Such information helps in developing the plan for conservation of the archaeological resources and allows archaeologists to stay apace of the developing research perspectives. Archaeologists rely to a greater extent on Greek architecture, pottery, and sculpture as important evidence analyzing the Greeks way of life. For instance, in the study of endash and ceramics, pottery can be used to tell time chronologically because its shapes and decoration changed over different periods of ancient Greece. The association of changes in pottery, architecture, and sculpture in the case of ancient Greeks, with particular events data, allows the archaeologists to develop a time to time basis of culture. Ancient Greek pottery also gives data that represent on many aspects of ancients Greek such as red-figure and mould-made relief pottery. These scenes are demonstrations of what they believed in. Through these, we can find the interpretation of architecture, sculpture, and pottery of how Greeks viewed life. Because the Greek artists were fond of labeling individuals as legends, it is easier to piece this information. Furthermore, in studying Greek art, archaeologists look for features which enable them to identify works executed by the same artist. The tendency of artists signing their works gives archaeologists a foundation basis of an artist style. By studying which artists worked together, they can obtain information about the period in which these artists worked. References List Andrew JC, Maya, E, & Mary, LH 2002, Understanding Greek Vases: A Guide to Terms, Styles, and Techniques. Los Angeles: J. Paul Getty Museum. Biers, WR 1996, The Archaeology of Greece, Ithaca and London. Bugh R 2006, The Cambridge Companion to the Hellenistic World. Cambridge University Press Hayes, JW 1991, "Fine Wares in the Hellenistic World." in Looking at Greek Vases , T. Rasmussen and N. Spivey, eds. Cambridge University Press 1991. John GP, 1993, Greek Art and Archaeology. Upper Saddle River NJ: Prentice Hall. Pedley, JG 1998, Greek Art and Archaeology, Prentice Hall. Renfrew, C & Paul, B 1991, Archaeology: Theories, Methods, and Practices, Thames and Hudson Ltd., London. Susan IR 1982, Hellenistic Pottery: Athenian and Imported Moldmade Bowls , Vol. XXII of The Athenian Agora. Princeton NJ: The American School of Classical Studies at Athens. Read More

Classical and Hellenistic Greece The Classical Greece is considered to be the most impressive era of ancient Greek due to its influence on all western civilization. During this time, Athens became the center for ancient world literature, sciences, art, philosophy, and architecture. One of the major themes of Classical Greece is the buildings and architecture of classical Greek cities and sanctuaries as well as images and artifacts that were displayed on them which led to the emergence of Classical Art.

The less numerous Greek unified and defeated the Persian Empire and Athens and Sparta came into collision. This age witnessed both Peloponnesian and Persian wars, the rise of Macedon and conquest of Asia by Alexander the Great. Hellenistic Greece was a period of abrupt changes although they did not cut of this period from the classical period. There were an interaction and conflict between the two Mediterranean cultures, Roman Italy and Hellenistic East. As a result, there are abundant materials, visual and written records evidence that provides a detailed understanding of the complex process of acculturation when Rome became more powerful than Mediterranean and the technology off Hellenistic culture became available in Italy.

The impact of culture shift is evidence through architecture, art, and lifestyles. The changes that took place during Hellenistic Greece contributed to the continuity of the Classical Times. Elements such as religion, philosophy and literature changed their perspective during Hellenistic but used materials of Classical Greece. According to Bugh (2006), Alexander the Great married Achaemenid royalty princess and at 90 of his companion took brides from Iran. This can be seen as a continuation of traditional Argead policy, where marriage was regarded as a way of consolidation.

Furthermore, the Greek city-states continued to exist through both periods; they retained their physical and social entity (Bugh 2006). Therefore, the Hellenistic Greece cannot be regarded as degeneration but rather an evolution by using materials from Classical Greece and transforming to what is known today as Hellenistic. Due to interactions with other people, their perception and understanding of the world changed. Archaeological contributions of Classical and Hellenistic Greece In the Classical period, Greek artists were represented in a way that expresses liveliness regarding sense of clarity, harmony, and permanence.

The artists formulated systems of proportion that helped them to achieve this artistic effect and allowed them to reproduce it. On the other hand, Hellenistic art was richly diverse to convey new styles and the image itself. However, Hellenistic artists improved earlier styles by being innovative to make new additions. Other changes included representation of the Greek gods that reflected the increased secularization of traditional religion. The famous ancient Greek art that is significant to archaeology include sculptures, architecture, and pottery.

Sculptures The sculpture is one of the most important works in the Classical period of Greece (Pedley 1998). One of the most favorite themes was that of the athlete, a Greek style of portrayal of musculature. Also, the Greek artist undertook the scientific study of a human for the sole purpose of art and found some ratios that informed proportion in their sculptures. The classical period in Greece has a wide range of style and quality evident in the Parthenon's metopes. According to Biers, the sculptors, particularly Polukleitos human forms were idealized with a close-knit musculature, major divisions clearly shown in the body and with close-cropped hair.

Also, the sculptures have a tendency to borrow from dramatists that depicted a scene in a series of events. The arrival of the concept rhythmos, a pause within the movement was used to express motion which was first attempted by Pythagoras of Rhegion. Another important feature of classical period was a style known as "severe," which incorporated few ornaments, being austere to match its solemn subject matter.

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