The Spread of Greek Culture

Hellenistic Period

	Introduction:  After the defeat of the Persians by Alexander the Great in the late 4th Century BCE, much of the area around Asia Minor, Egypt and Italy was affected artistically by the Greek way. Much of the architectural styles in the outlying areas took on those of the Doric and Ionic temples, while sculpture adopted the realistic Greek proportions. However, artwork, especially sculpture, became much more individual and emotional.  The ideal athlete was replaced by the suffering, wounded warrior. Pergamon (on the coast of Asia Minor) becomes a cultural center for artistic achievements.
	Architecture Altar of Zeus, Pergamon, c166-156 BCE
	Epigonos, Dying Gaul, 230-220 BCE Athena Attacking the Giants, Altar of Zeus, c166-156 BCE Nike of Samothrace, c190 BCE Hagesandros, Polydoros, amd Athanadoros, Laocoon and His Sons, early first century AD
	Etruscan Art By the sixth century BCE, a group of people known as the Etruscans controlled a large and powerful empire near the coast of Italy, around what is now Rome. The Etruscans successfully ruled until they were overthrown by the Romans in 281 BCE. Strongly influenced by the Greeks, The Etruscans provided an artistic link between the Greeks and the Romans. The Romans will establish and rule one of the most extensive empires in history. Imposing their culture on all people under their domain, the Romans ruled an empire that stretched from the Euphrates River in the Near East, to North Africa, and to Scotland in Northern Europe. At this time, a new order of architectural elements is created: The TUSCAN Order. This marked by a simple column base and a plain, unfluted column.  The Etruscan style temple is also fairly different from its predecessors. Life-size terra cotta of Apollo, c500 BCE. (Note the use of the 'Archaic smiles' on the Etruscan sculptures.) Etruscan Sarcophagus in Cerveteri, c520 BCE shows that the Etruscans had a more friendly, gentle approach to death.