Baiya Reading Time -- Starting in Surprise: The Sublime and Beauty of Ancient Greek and Roman Art

Author: Lin Jiali
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Features: The true meaning of European art should begin with ancient Greece. The geographical scope of Greek art originated around the Aegean Sea and is therefore also considered a continuation of Aegean art. Shelley once wrote in a poem, "We are all Greeks." Hegel also once said, "The name Greece naturally evokes a sense of home in the minds of educated Europeans, especially in our Germans." Greece is the cradle of European civilization. Ancient Greeks achieved remarkable accomplishments in science, philosophy, literature, and art. Their brilliance was so dazzling that later generations, upon reflection, could not help but be greatly moved. As one philosopher put it, Greek art "began in astonishment." The Greek people, who cherished freedom, had a unique way of thinking. Herodotus once said, "Freedom was the sole source of the prosperity and strength of the Athenian city-state, and before that, it was unable to compete with neighboring city-states due to being forced to acknowledge autocratic rule." For this very reason, Greek art, in its expression,、、、，、。 (Note: The original Chinese text contains a mix of English and Chinese. The English translation should only translate the Chinese parts, keeping the English parts unchanged.)
Meanwhile, in the Near East, authors merely carried out orders without personal creativity or signatures, whereas in the Greek era, individual status was elevated. Artists could carve their names on their works, and even place their statues side by side with divine statues. This was the Greek people's respect for art. In a democratic and free environment, the Greeks not only discovered, nurtured, and created beauty but also created gods. In the eyes of the Greeks, the perfect was divine, so they revered humanity, elevating it to the same level as the gods, making gods and humans identical in form and essence. The Greeks valued the existence and worth of the individual, and this was fully reflected in their art. Through their works, they celebrated the beauty of the human body and spirit, idealized human forms, and strove 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 myths such as Cupid, Venus, and Apollo. Greek mythology was the soil of Greek art, containing rational reflections on the mysteries of nature, nurturing the seeds of historical and philosophical ideas, and exerting a profound influence on later Western art. The Greeks regarded strong, healthy bodies as the source of all goodness and beauty, and considered Greek mythology the spiritual origin of art, as Marx said: "Greek mythology is not only the treasury of Greek art but also its soil." The main achievements of Greek art were manifested in sculptures that unified gods and humans, as well as in temple architecture. The main characteristics of Greek art were all-encompassing harmony and regularity, as well as solemnity and tranquility. Its main symbol was the beauty of the human body. The Greeks contributed to humanity enduring, unparalleled artistic masterpieces. "Greek art, with its profound realism, harmonious completeness, heroic love of life, and respect for the noble qualities of humanity, stunned later generations."