Greek and Roman Art

Kouros Statue

Greek

Kore Statue

Greek

Venus Di Milo

Greek

Laocoon

Greek

The Parthenon

Greek

Black Figure Pottery

Greek

Red Figure Pottery

Greek

Maison Carree

Roman

The Panthenon

Roman

Augustus of Prima Porta

Roman

The Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius

Roman

Acropolis

high city, highest and most fortified point within a Greek city-state

Cella

The inner area of an ancient temple, especially one housing the hidden cult image in a Greek or Roman temple

Composite Capital

A capital with an ornate combination of Ionic volutes and Corinthian acanthus leaves that became popular in Roman times

Contrapposto

A sculptural scheme in which the standing human figure's weight rests on one leg, freeing the other leg, which is bent at the knee. With the weight shift, the hips, shoulders, and head tilt, suggesting relaxation with the subtle internal organic movement that denotes life

Corinthian Order

The most ornate, slender and sleek of the three Greek orders. They are distinguished by a decorative, bell-shaped capital with volutes, two rows of acanthus leaves and an elaborate cornice.

Dome

A vault, having a circular plan and usually in the form of a portion of a sphere, so constructed as to exert an equal thrust in all directions

Doric Order

The oldest and simplest of the three main orders of classical Greek architecture, characterized by heavy fluted columns with plain, saucer-shaped capitals and no base. More masculine.

Entablature

The upper section of a classical building, resting on the columns and constituting the architrave, frieze, and cornice

Ionic Order

A taller, thinner column with scroll shapes on its capital

Kore

The name given to a type of free-standing ancient Greek sculpture of the Archaic period depicting female figure. Translates to "young maiden"

Kouros

Modern term given to free-standing Greek sculptures which first appeared in the Archaic period in Greece and represent nude male youths. Translates to "young boy"

Linear Perspective

A type of perspective used by artists in which the relative size, shape, and position of objects are determined by drawn or imagined lines converging at a point on the horizon

Pediment

The triangular space (gable) at the end of a building, formed by the ends of the sloping roof above the colonnade

Pseudoperipteral

A temple that has a series of engaged columns all around the sides and back of the cella to give the appearance of a peripteral colonnade

Arch

A curved structural member that spans an opening and is generally composed of wedge-shaped blocks that transmit the downward pressure laterally.

Diaphragm Arch

A transverse and wall bearing arch that divides a vault or a ceiling into compartments, providing a kind of firebreak

Atmospheric Perspective

Aerial perspective that refers to the effect of the atmosphere has on the appearance of an object as it is viewed from a distance

Bust

A sculpted or cast representation of the upper part of the human figure, depicting a person's head and neck, and a variable portion of he chest and shoulders. The piece is normally supported by a plinth

Caesar

Any of the Roman emperors succeeding Augustus. A term used for a powerful Roman ruler, emperor, or dictator

Coffer

A sunken panel, often ornamental, in a soffit, a vault, or a ceiling

Composite Capital

A capital with an ornate combination of Ionic volutes and Corinthian acanthus leaves that became popular in Roman times

Cuirass

A piece of armor consisting of breastplate and backplate fastened together

Equestrian Statue

Depicting or representing a person on horseback

Groin

The edge formed by the intersection of two vaults

Groin Vault

Formed by the intersection at right angles of two barrel vaults of equal sizes. Lighter in appearance than the barrel vault, required less buttressing

Oculus

The round central opening or "eye" of a dome

Truss

An assembly of members such as beams, connected by nodes, that create a rigid structure. "Consists of two-force members only, where the members are organized so that the assemblage as a whole behaves as a single object"