RWCAA1
TEACHER'S INSTRUCTIONS
CL652-3 THE ART OF ANCIENT GREECE
INTRODUCTION
The contributions of the ancient Greeks to Western civilisation are virtually immeasurable.
In philosophy, art, government and scientific thought, the Greeks set a standard for
ingenuity, perfection and beauty against which subsequent Western cultures have come to
compare themselves. Indeed, as A. N. Whitehead has suggested, all of western European
philosophy to date is merely a footnote to Plato. In short, our own civilisation is in many
ways the realisation of ideas and ideals first formulated hundreds of years ago on the
shores of the Aegean Sea.
In this film, students will become acquainted with many of the achievements of the ancient
Greeks. Through an historical perspective, students will see ancient Greece as a
civilisation of in- dependent city-states concerned first and foremost with life-an
impassioned and intelligent concern which has greatly affected the evolution of Western
governments, art, philosophy and science to this day.
VOCABULARY
Doric
Corinthian
capital
frieze
Ionic
DISCUSSION SUGGESTIONS
1. Discuss the cultural interchange between the Greeks and the Egyptians. In what ways, if
at all, did the Greeks improve upon Egyptian ideas?
2. What is the major difference between the religions of the Egyptians and Mesopotamians as
compared to that of the Greek?
3. Compare and contrast Greek and Egyptian sculpture. What seems to have been the effects
of "freedom" in the art of the Greeks as compared to that of the Egyptians?
4. Discuss "naturalism" and "realism" as it relates to Greek art.
5. In what ways does the subject matter ()f.,.t.he Greek sculptors differ from
that of the Egyptians and Mesopotamians?
6. What is the distinction of the Praxiteles "Hermes" as dis- cussed in the
filmstrip.
7. What are the three orders of Greek columns used by the Greeks in their
architecture?
8. Discuss the purpose for different types of columns in the construction of
temples.
9. Explain the construction of the Parthenon. What, according to t