The Helenistic Period

A detailed Summary of The Helenistic Period

Alexander the great perished in the year 323 BC. His immense empire deteriorated and was split into many different kingdoms. This breakup symbolizes the thoughts and tendencies of the artists in the Hellenistic era. The old art centers were contained in the Greek mainland, but in the islands, such as Rhodes, and the cities in the eastern Mediterranean, called Alexandria, Antioch, and Pergamon. During this time, the Corinthian order was developed. It was the most ornate and complex order. The Hellenistic art was a mix between Classical and Baroque or even rococo, which is more ideal, but also realistic. The Hellenistic period was, above anything else, a period of eclecticism. The art was used to glorify athletes and to glorify the gods. The art also decorated the homes of the rich. The human being was portrayed in every stage of life. They even made caricatures. The Greeks also realized the effects of space. This was portrayed through their sculptures and paintings. Now, the Greeks were creating both reliefs and painted panels for the first time.

The Alter of Zeus, built to commemorate the victories of the Hellenistic leader, Attalus I, and created by Greek artists for King Eumenes II, has a

Hellenistic architecture was much more immense and a lot more dramatic than in the classical period. The amphitheatre was created during this period. The amphitheaters were outdoor, semicircular theaters that had seats on a hillside. The performance stage was at the bottom. The amphitheater had perfect acoustics and the design is still used today.

In many Greek sculptures, the extremities of the sculpture were sculpted separate from the torso. The arms and legs were fastened on with metal pins. That is why many of the appendages are lost.

Hellenistic art was an emotional age of art. All sculptures were done to have some sort of emotion or feeling, whether it be agony, happiness, or bravery. This period of art was very subjective and is why this period in the art of the Greeks was, in my opinion, the most inspiring.

The Discus Thrower, carved by Myron, creates the powerful illusion of spiraling outwards from an imaginary vertical axis. The thrower is ready to throw the disk.**

Some common words found in the essay are:
Troy Laocoon, Eumenes II, Dying Gaul, Classical Baroque, Discus Thrower, Victory Samothrace, Period Alexander, Infant Dionysus, Alter Zeus, Pergamon Corinthian, hellenistic period, hellenistic era, hellenistic art, period art,

Approximate Word count = 833
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History

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