Hellenistic Period

Question 1

What is happening in of the Hellenistic Period? (5)

Answer 1

• End of classical period
• Alexander defeats Perioan Empire and dies
• Alexander’s generas divide his kingdoms
• Rise of Roman Empire
• Ends with Romans defeating Cleopatra and Marc Antony

Question 2

Define baroque (5)

Answer 2

• Diagonal lines
• Exaggerated musculature
• Powerful emotional expression
• Strong contrast of light and dark

Question 3

Define Rococo (2)

Answer 3

• Lighter or erotic themes
• Decorative and humorous than appeal

Question 4

Identification (6)

Answer 4

Alexander Mosaic
* Late 2nd - early 1st cent. BCE
* Found in House of the Faun in Pompeii
* Tesserae (collection of stone pebbles) mosaic
* Shows battle between Alexander the Great and Darius III (Battle of Issus)
* Shows skigraphia (shine and shades)
* Has pathos of defeat

Question 5

What is Pergamon (5)

Answer 5

• Capital city of Anatolia, Attalid Empire
• Lysimachus: general of Alexander
• Philetairos: Lysimachus’ general
• Fortress used natural steep hillside
• Attalid building program used to build autonomous kingdom, focused on upper acropolis, promoted arts (library, theatre, stoa, altar)

Question 6

Identification (6)

Answer 6

Great Altar of Zeus
* 2nd cent. BCE
* Marble
* Pergamon
* Now reconstructed in Berlin
* Partial inscriptions suggest it was dedicated to Zeus, or him and Athen Nikephorus
* Has a theme of gigantomachy (battle between gods and giants), emphasizes on emotion and theatricism

Question 7

Descibe the Pergamene Style (7)

Answer 7

• School of sculpture was influential in late 3rd-2nd cent. BCE
• Deep carving with hair
• Dramatic diagonal posing
• Over exaggerated men muscles
• Full-figured woman
• Overlapping figures
• Emphasis on emotion and drama (moth, worry lines, recessed eyes)

Question 8

Identification (6)

Answer 8

Nike Samothrace
* Late 3rd cent.- early 2nd cent. BCE
* Found in Sanctuary of the Gods (island of Samothrace), placed in niche on top of hill behind the theatre
* Ship marble from Rhodes, statue marble from Paros
* Shows Nike (goddess of victory), commemorative monument to naval battles between Rhodes, Myonnesos and Side
* Wind-blown draper has wet-draptery style and sense of movement
* Traces of polychroms: blue on wings, blue and red on himation

Question 9

Identification (6)

Answer 9

Terme Boxer (Seated Boxer)
* 2nd cent. BCE - early 1st cent. BCE
* Found at construction infill bottom of Quirinal Hill, Rome
* Bronze
* Shows baroque (exaggerated muscles and powerful emotion) and realism (injuries: cauliflower ear, broken nose, cuts)
* Original context is unknown
* Missing inlaid eyes

Question 10

What are Tanagra Figurines? (7)

Answer 10

• Teracotta
• Found at graves or sanctuaries (tomb scultpures banned in 317 BCE)
• Tanagra- named after site in Boeotia where many were found
• Polychrome: brightly coloured
• First produced in Athens in 4th cent. BCE
• Spread of production: Tanagra, Alexandria, Myrine. Southern Italy
• Subjects are typically women, actors/theatrical scenes, dancers, children playing