Archaic

=Ancient Greek Archaic Period c. 600-480 BCE=

The Archaic Period was set just after the Dark Ages and the Classical Period succeeds it. In Ancient Greek times, this period refers to a time that is almost totally defined by its art. Specific art includes sculpture and pottery. These styles were known for showing specific characteristics of the art that will come back and be developed even more in later years. The Archaic Period also saw advancements in political theory, including the beginnings of Democracy. Lastly, the written language that was lost during the Dark Ages was reinvented and used again.



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= = = = =Painted Pots=

The pottery in Ancient Greece had many purposes within everyday life. During the Archaic Period, the pottery went through many changes due to the fact that there was more trading with eastern countries. The Archaic Period shows us the first examples of human figures painted onto these types of pots and pottery. Before this time, there had only been animals or plants. As these types of pottery evolved, so did the way potters created their works. The Red-Figure and Black-Figure were ways to paint the pottery. Basically, Red-Figure means that everything on the pot is painted black except for the shapes that need to be seen, they will show up in the color of the pot (almost always reddish). This is just the opposite for Black-Figure, in which only the shapes that want to be seen are painted black and now there is a reddish background. Most potters of this time depicted scenes from the Iliad of other famous stories from Ancient Greece. This type of pottery was sold usually in only Athens and Corinth.

= = =Temples=

The Archaic Period used two types of columns for its temples. The first type was Doric Order. The first of the two, it can be spotted by knowing that they have simple shafts, they are usually shorter from Ionic temples, and the capital at the top of the column does not have much of a design to it. The second type, Ionic Order, can be spotted because it is usually taller and more slender than Doric Order. Also, the capitals at the top have two hanging volutes (a spiral scroll-like ornament). Both types of columns have been found in Ancient Greek temples; it just depends on the time period as to which you will see.



=Free-standing Sculpture=

During the Archaic Period, sculptors generally made two types of free-standing sculptures: the male, kouros, and the female, koure. The female koure's were clothed almost all the time and the male kouros' we almost never clothed. These sculptures would serve many purposes including use as grave markers or dedications to gods/goddesses. Another main part of Archaic sculpture was the famous "Archaic Smile" which was put onto every human figure sculpture made. Generally, it was just the human putting on a smile no matter what pose they were in or what was happening to them.