BALANCE AND GRACE

Ancient Greeks loved beauty and grace. They sought to bring balance and order to all aspects of their lives. In art they took their time. They always calculated the perfect proportions and gauged the exact amount of decoration it would take to fill the space on a pot, a public wall or a temple of the grandest scale.

Greek Parthenon

PICK A PIECE OF POTTERY

NO PLASTIC PLEASE

Ancient Greeks did not use plastic or glass because they did not have the technology to make either one. They did, however, have clay and the knowledge and the skills to make extraordinarily beautiful pottery. Clay can be formed into many shapes and when it is heated to a very high temperature it becomes hard and waterproof. The Ancient Greeks used their pottery to hold things such as food, beverages and other liquids such as olive oil.

In the cities of Greece, many craftspeople had workshops near the agora, an open-air marketplace where potters, jewelers, shoemakers, metal workers and others would make and sell their wares. If there were several potters who had workshops in a section in the marketplace, this area would be known as the potters' quarter.

SEEING RED AND BLACK

Much of the pottery made in Ancient Greece was highly decorated. A lot of what we know about life in Ancient Greece comes from studying the scenes depicted on the many pieces of pottery that were produced there. Scenes of ordinary people participating in everyday activities, as well as Greek gods, goddess and heroes, were depicted on Greek pottery.

Vase painters developed two ways of drawing figures or people on pottery. One technique involved drawing black figures on a red clay background. This was called the black-figure style. Because more detail could be shown, another technique called the red-figure style became more popular. With this style the vase painter made the background of the pot black and the figures were left red. Fine lines of black paint were brushed in to show details on each of the red figures.

Over time Greek potters began to make clay pots in unique shapes that were designed for a particular use. There are four shapes that were particularly common and used most by the Ancient Greeks.

The amphora, which means to carry on both sides, has two handles, one on each side. These handles are always vertical and sit high on the pot's wide body and narrow neck. Amphoras were used to store and carry liquids such as water and wine. They were also used for food storage. Grains or olives could be easily stored in this type of clay container.

A hydria was used to carry water from a spring or well. In Greek, the word hydria means water. This type of pot has an oval body and three handles. There are two horizontal handles, one on each side of the pot and one vertical handle behind the pot's mouth. The third handle helps a person to pour and control the water as it flows from the pot.

A krater was a large bowl used for mixing water and wine. This vessel had a large opening and two horizontal handles that sat low on the pot. Greek wine was very strong and was almost always diluted with water. After the wine and water were mixed in the krater, the mixture would be ladled into individual drinking cups. The name krater comes from the Greek word meaning mix.

The kylix is a drinking cup. The kylix had a shallow bowl attached to a base with a high stem and two horizontal handles.

PICTURE PERFECT ARCHITECTURE

CLASSIC BEAUTY

Ancient Greek architecture evolved into what we now describe as a classical style. Their style of architectural design emphasized attention to craftsmanship, balance, proportion, beauty and grace. Classical architecture is calming to look at and gives one a sense of awe and perfection. It is no wonder that the Ancient Greeks used this classical style when building all of their temples.

FIT FOR A GOD

Greek temples were built as homes for the gods. A temple was usually dedicated to one god or goddess. Since the Ancient Greeks worshiped many gods and goddesses there were many temples. It was everyone's hope that each god or goddess would come visit the temple built in his or her honor. The Ancient Greeks tried to make these temples as beautiful and inviting as possible. Only the best materials and most accomplished craftsmen were used. Temples were a source of community pride and each city-state would often have more than one temple. Building a large temple was a way to show other city-states how rich, religious and cultured you were.

MATH WHIZ

The most famous Greek temple ever built is the Parthenon. Dedicated to the goddess Athena, the Parthenon was built on the Acropolis, a steep hill in the center of Athens. Almost 230 feet long and 100 feet wide, the Parthenon is a huge building. Despite its size, this building looks graceful due to careful mathematical planning. Precise ratios were worked out so that every part of the temple would be just the right size to balance and harmonize with everything else in the temple. When we look at the Parthenon our eyes know and appreciate that the proportions are perfect, even if we do not know the mathematical equation that was used to make it that way.

PICK YOUR COLUMN

Columns are the most recognizable element from Greek architecture. Columns were used in the temples but were also commonly used in other public buildings and some homes. There are three kinds of columns. It is easy to tell them apart if you know what to look for.

Doric columns are very simple columns with no decoration at the top, the capital.

Doric Column

Ionic columns are thinner and more elegant. The capital of the Ionic column is decorated with a volute on each side. A volute is a scroll-like design.

Ionic Column

Corinthian columns are the most heavily decorated of the columns. The capital of this column is decorated all around with rows of 3-dimensional leaf shapes.

Corinthian Column

Greek columns are still used in architecture today. Many buildings throughout the world, including some in Washington D.C., were built with columns and intentionally made to resemble Greek temples. Our Capitol building and the Supreme Court building are examples. Thomas Jefferson also built his home Monticello with Greek architecture in mind. Post offices, schools, libraries, museums and modern day homes are still being built with columns.

Capital Building in Washington D.C.

Supreme Court Building in Washington D.C.

MAGNIFICENT MOSAICS

WATCH OUT

Houses in Ancient Greece were less grand than the temples built for gods and goddesses. Most houses were simple and small, sometimes with only two or three rooms. Front doors had to open out into the street because the rooms were so small. Homeowners had to be careful not to fling open their front doors too suddenly. If they weren't careful, they could hit a person who was just casually walking by on the street!

Wealthy Greeks could afford homes that were larger and included an enclosed courtyard. They often painted their walls with frescos. Frescos are large pictures painted on walls that have just been coated with fresh plaster. Ancient Greeks also liked to decorate their homes with Mosaic floors. This was something done only in the main rooms of houses because making a large mosaic was time consuming and paying the craftsperson was costly.

Mosaic Tile

FLOOR IT

Mosaics are traditionally made with small and different colored pieces of pebbles or tiles. The pebbles or tiles are used to create an overall picture or pattern by laying them side by side. At first, the Greeks made mosaic floors using small colored pebbles set into a bed of sand. Eventually, small clay tiles were made especially for the mosaic floors. Tile was a better material for mosaics because it could be made in many colors and sizes. Mosaics made with tile were popular because they were complex and included details that could not be accomplished with just pebbles. Just as the pictures on Greek pottery give us information about life in ancient times, so do these complex mosaics.