Classic Greek Art
Late Hellenistic Art
Introduction to Greek Art

Greek Art Macedonian and Early Hellenistic 350 BC to 100 AD

Macedonian Period (336 to 323BC)

Helenistic Period (336 to 146 BC)

Macedonian hegemony over the Greek poleis took the form of an alliance that survived the assassination of Philip II. His heir, Alexander III—called "the Great" on account of his amazing conquests—takes up the plan to invade the Persian Empire, involving all the Greeks in the liberation of cities dominated by Persian satraps.

His expeditions become a triumphant march of conquest across the Persian empire. Alexander reaches the banks of the Indus and present-day Afghanistan, establishing cities that bear his name. He founded the first huge empire in history. In it he promoted the cultural Hellenization of the countries conquered. His death in Babylonia, at only 33 years of age, triggered fierce struggles among his successors.

The imperial regent in Macedonia,Antipater, suppressed a revolt by the other Greeks, but for forty years Alexander's Macedonian generals struggled to gain portions of the empire for themselves. Eventually the great empire is broken into Hellenized kingdoms, starting long dynasties in each.

Powerful states came into being, their political, economic, and cultural activities centered on splendid capitals. The Greek poleis founded leagues, such as the Aetolian League, which trounced the invading Celts in 280 BC and the Achaean League, which put an end to Sparta's independence. But the cultural Greek hegemony throughout the Alexandren empire remains intact.

The spin-off Greek kingdoms: the Seleucids in Asia Minor, Syria, and Mesopotamia; the Ptolemies in Egypt; and the Attalids in Pergamum continue to reign until the 2nd and 1st centuries BC, until Rome completed its conquest of them. Pergamun considered itself the "new" Athens -- center of art and culture. The Ptolemies tried to make Alexandria into the same thing -- perhaps a little less so because existing Egyptian culture was still too strong to take much bending; but it is certainly the message which the Ptolemies wanted to convey with the Alexandrian Library, the greatest center of learning in the Helenistic world.

In art, the severity of Greek classical style was out. Instead a new emotional floridness was in. In fact, what most people call "classical Greek art" is not that at all -- it is really Helenistic art. Think of the things today we think of first when we think of "Classical": The 'Venus de Milo', 'Winged Victory', or 'Laocoön'. This is art done toward the end of the Helenistic period, just before the Roman period begins.

Bell Krater with a scene from a Phlyax Comedy about 340 BC	info: gay vase ancient greek vases sex comedy
Kylix Gymnasium Scene [ modern reproduction by Alpha Arts] about 300 BC	Plate with Two Baccaei about 300 BC

Mosaic Decoration from Delos (about 300 BC)

Continue with the Last Chapter of Greek Art

Classic Greek Art
Late Hellenistic Art
Introduction to Greek Art

2003-03-23