Greek Architecture is the
most important and influential in Western history.
Reaching a peak between 400 and 300 BC, it was developed,
some would say vulgarized, by the Romans and then
absorbed into the Byzantine. The Egyptian palaces
and temples were built for the satisfaction of priests
and royalty; the public at large never penetrated
these sanctuaries. Greek society,however was totally
inclusive stone
and marble was used for structures covering uses
that reflected a much wider and more open society
in which literature, music, drama and sport thrived.
At this time young athletes and warriors
were very popular and became imortialized in the statuary
of the Greek and Roman architecure..
The early Greek
statues in about the 6th century BC the sculptors
began to study the human body and work out its proportions.
For models they had the finest of young athletes.
The Greeks wore no clothing when they practiced sports,
and the sculptor could observe their beautiful, strong
bodies in every pose.Greek religion, Greek love of
beauty, and a growing spirit of nationalism found
fuller and fuller expression. |