The Ancient Greeks were organized into independent city-states. In these states, the ideas of courage, valor, and independence were strongly held values. These themes can be seen very clearly in their human depictions. The Greeks idealized humans, showing the strong and youthful depiction of men and women. They displayed increasing skill & sensitivity in depicting human form. Their art work embodies much of what made the Greek civilization great. .
Few examples of Greek architecture or large sculpture have survived in their original, undamaged form but large Greek paintings are known. An abundance of pottery vases, coins, jewellery, and gems have still survived which give some indication of the characteristics of Greek art. (The Western Civilization).
The particular strengths of Greek architectural art were the harmony & symmetry of the parts with the whole. Greek architects usually worked in marble or limestone, using wood and tile for roofs. They developed their own architecture of stone pillared buildings with mathematical proportion. Their temples reflected their religious beliefs in the gods. These temples were painted and carved decorations made on these made the buildings the wonder of their age. Sculptors carved marble and limestone, modeled clay, and cast works in bronze. Sculptors also worked on gravestones, tombs, and private commissions, where they expressed the same idealized vision of human form. Large votive statues were made of plates of hammered bronze or consisted of wooden cores sheathed in gold and ivory. Heads and outstretched arms were sometimes made separately and then attached to the torso. Stone and clay sculpture was brightly painted, entirely or partly. Painting of the Ancient Greeks has survived primarily in the form of Vase Painting. The paintings were done in red and black with some use of accent colors. The vases depicted battles, heroes, gods, and every day life.
