What is the most popular Greek sculpture?

The Aphrodite of Milos, now in the Louvre Museum, is probably the most popular example of Greek sculpture.

What are the characteristics of ancient Greek sculpture?

The main characteristics of ancient Greek sculpture are proportion, poise, and the idealised perfection of the human body.

Why is ancient Greek sculpture important?

Ancient Greek sculpture is important because it was the first art that realistically portrayed the human form, albeit in an idealised way. Greek sculpture influenced Roman art and many other cultures thereafter.

Greek Sculpture Timeline

Definition

The sculpture of ancient Greece from 800 to 300 BCE took inspiration from Egyptian and Near Eastern monumental art, and evolved into a uniquely Greek vision of the art form. Greek artists captured the human form in a way never before seen where sculptors were particularly concerned with proportion, poise, and the idealised perfection of the human body.

More about: Ancient Greek Sculpture

Timeline

c. 700 BCE
Paros begins to export its Parian marble across the Greek world and it is widely used in temples and sculpture.
c. 580 BCE
The kouroi of Argos, thought to represent Cleobis & Biton, are sculpted.
c. 560 BCE
Naxos dedicates a large column and sphinx to the oracle of Apollo at Delphi.
c. 550 BCE
Oldest surviving sculpture of a winged Nike found on Delos.
c. 525 BCE
The Treasury of the Siphnians is built at Delphi which included Caryatid architecture.
510 BCE - 370 BCE
Greeks fighting Amazons becomes a popular subject of architectural sculpture across Greece.
490 BCE - 480 BCE
A 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) tall Iris or Nike sculpture is erected on the Acropolis of Athens in memory of the general Kallimachos, killed in the Battle of Marathon.
480 BCE - 460 BCE
The bronze charioteer of Delphi is sculpted.
c. 460 BCE - 457 BCE
Temple of Zeus is built at Olympia with a statue of Apollo dominating the west pediment and containing the cult statue of Zeus by Phidias.
c. 460 BCE
The west pediment of the Temple of Zeus at Olympia is decorated with a Centauromachy of centaurs fighting Lapiths at the wedding of Peirithoos.
c. 460 BCE
The bronze Poseidon or Zeus statue (of Cape Artemesium) is sculpted.
460 BCE - 450 BCE
Two bronze Greek warriors are sculpted, the 'Bronzi Riace'.
c. 457 BCE
Metopes on the Temple of Zeus at Olympia depict the twelve labours of Hercules.
450 BCE - 440 BCE
The bronze statue of the discus thrower (Diskobolos) by Myron is sculpted.
438 BCE
The cult statue of Athena Parthenos is dedicated in the Parthenon of Athens.
c. 430 BCE
The cult statue of Zeus by Phidias is dedicated in the Temple of Zeus, Olympia. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
c. 425 BCE
Kresilas sculpts the idealised portrait statue of Pericles which in antiquity was much copied as a bust.
424 BCE - 420 BCE
The Nike of Paionios is erected at Olympia to commemorate the Messenian and Naupaktian victory over Sparta at the battle of Sphakteria.
421 BCE - 406 BCE
The Erechtheion of Athens acropolis is constructed with six Caryatids in the south porch.
340 BCE
Praxiteles sculpts his Aphrodite, the first full female nude in Greek sculpture.
c. 330 BCE
Statue of Hermes sculpted by Praxiteles.
460 CE - 450 CE
Most likely date of production of the Riace Bronzes.

Ancient Greek Sculpture

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Definition

Timeline