Beginning in Awe: The Sublime and Beauty of Ancient Greek and Roman Art

Author: Lin Jiali
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: True European art should begin with ancient Greece. The geographical scope of the origin of Greek art is centered around the Aegean Sea, and thus is also considered a continuation of Aegean art. Shelley once sang in his poem, "We are all Greeks." Hegel also once said, "The name of Greece naturally evokes a sense of homeland in the hearts of educated Europeans, especially in our Germans." Greece is the cradle of European civilization. Ancient Greeks achieved brilliant accomplishments in science, philosophy, literature, and art. Her brilliance is so dazzling that later generations, upon looking back, cannot help but be greatly moved. As one philosopher put it, Greek art began "in astonishment." The thinking style of the free Greeks was therefore unique. Herodotus once said, "Freedom is the only source of prosperity and strength for the Athenian city-state, and before that, it was powerless to compete with neighboring city-states because it was forced to acknowledge autocratic rule." For this reason, Greek art, in its expression,、、、，、。 At the same time, in Near Eastern art, the author merely carried out orders and left no personal creativity or signature in the works. However, during the Greek era, the status of the individual was elevated, and artists could carve their names into their works or even place their statues side by side with divine statues, which was a manifestation of the Greeks' respect for art. In a democratic and free environment with fierce competition, the Greeks not only discovered, nurtured, and created beauty but also created gods. In the eyes of the Greeks, the perfect was god, so the Greeks respected humans, elevating them to the height of gods and affirming their oneness with divinity. The Greeks valued the existence and worth of the individual, and this was fully reflected in their art. Through their works, they celebrated the physical and spiritual beauty of humanity, idealized human forms, and strived to make them as perfect as divine statues, which became a distinctive feature of Greek art. The Greeks also worshipped gods, believing that their personalities were no different from ordinary people, so they personified the gods, creating many famous mythological stories such as Cupid, Venus, and Apollo. Greek mythology is the soil of Greek art, containing rational reflections on the mysteries of nature and nurturing the buds of historical and philosophical concepts, while also having a profound impact on later Western art. The Greeks regarded strong, healthy bodies as the source of all goodness and beauty, while viewing Greek mythology as the spiritual origin of art, as Marx said: "Greek mythology is not only the arsenal of Greek art but also its soil." The main achievements of Greek art are reflected in sculptures that unify gods and humans, as well as in temple architecture. The main characteristics of Greek art are all-encompassing harmony and regularity, as well as solemnity and tranquility. Its main symbol is the beauty of the human body. The Greeks have contributed to humanity enduring and unparalleled artistic masterpieces. "Greek artworks, with their profound significance, harmonious completeness, heroic spirit of loving life, and respect for the noble qualities of humanity, shocked later generations."