Ancient Greek Transformation

Greece was the subject of several significant transformations throughout ancient history. These transformations are represented in varies forms of art and allows us to view the Ancient Greek milestones in culture as well as recognize their many influences in today’s world. The Ancient Greek works of art appear to have been centered around their core value as a society.
It was Aristotle who said “The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.” The focus of Ancient Greek art was to represent what was important to their society. Art allowed their society to pass down values from generation to generation; in another sense, it can be said that art was the Ancient Greeks time stamp. For instance, if we look at the different aspects of Greek life from early civilization to the Hellenistic age, we will see a majority of their art will show their beliefs in gods.

In early Grecian culture religion played a major role and continuously seen on different pieces of artistry. Archeologist discovered a wall painting of an ancient bull at the palace of Knossos, that Cole and Symes suggest, is the early civilization of Minoan probably worshipping a god in the form of a bull or bull-man (40). The written work of Homer and Hesiod embodied the Greek’s belief in mythology and culture. As ancient history progressed and eras changed it did not deter Greeks from their foundation of gods. Statues similar to Laocoon and His Sons from the Hellenistic age continued to capture the generation of beliefs.
Ancient Greek art focused on human ideals and revealed their perception of beauty which played a role in social class, citizenship, and democracy.

Interestingly, gods were depicted as humans, and were made to human scale with no huge overpowering deity portrayed. The art of women appeared almost always as goddesses. Women in society were not as represented as the men in Greek Art. There is an abundance of art with men like the Kouras, hoplites, and different rulers and philosophers. This observation coincides with Ancient Greek’s attitude towards women. Cole and Symes state a Pericles statement to women in saying “He urges them to do three things; rear more children for the support of Athens and its wars, show no more weakness than is ‘“natural to their sex,”’ and attract no attention to themselves.” Although they grew to become the first democracy, ironically women were excluded. The definition beauty to the Grecian society were in the form of goddesses and men. They were held at great value to the Greeks. women in some ways were in the same social class as

slaves.
To conclude Greece works of art appear to have been centered around their core value as a society. The culture of ancient Greece reflects the importance of their values in society in many ways. The Greeks used art, philosophy, and even their system of government to convey their beliefs in the importance of one single man. They appreciated themselves in their art as much as they appreciated their many beliefs.