Greek Ideals: Excellence and Concern for Community

The ideal of excellence is shown in the pursuit of perfection in Greek architecture. This search for excellence took place mainly in the Hellenic Age 479-323 B.C. It is in this time the Greeks took the architecture of the Doric Order temples and created the Ionic Order. “Influenced by the Pythagorean quest for harmony through mathematical rules, the eastern builders had standardized six as the perfect number of columns for the ends of temples and thirteen, or twice the number of end columns, for the sides. These balanced proportions, along with simple designs and restrained decorative schemes made the eastern temples majestically expressive of Classical Ideals” (Matthews & Platt 72).

Temples were now being built in marble, rather than limestone. This enhanced the beauty of the

The above alterations and changes in designs of temples are evident in the architectural designs of Ictinus and Callicrates, who “perfected the eastern-style Doric temple in the Parthenon” (Matthews and Platt 72), showing the Greeks search for excellence in architecture.

Greek sculpture also pursued excellence. In the developmental changes from the Archaic Age kourai to the Hellenic Age, we can see the use of contrapposto, the placement of the body’s weight onto one foot, then using the other as support. This is a much more natural pose. The Greeks began to sculpt more realistic images showing motion and balance. An example of this is the sculpture of Doryphoros by Polykleitus. Polykleitus’ sculpture used a mathematical equation to depict more accurate proportions of the human body. His proportions for sculptures became the blueprint that others would follow.

Another ideal is the concern for community. In Homer’s Iliad, we see Hector, show great concern for his community. Hector is to go to war against Greece in honor of Troy. Although Hector fears his wife and son may be subjected to slavery upon his death, he must fight for Troy. We see his concern in the following passage from the Iliad “All this weighs on my mind, too dear woman. But

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