History 107

Lecture 18

The Expansion of Greece: Hellenistic Art

and Culture
The Hellenistic World
Hellenistic Civilization
 Review: Three empires emerged from what Alexander the Great
(d. 323) had created: Ptolemaic Egypt, Seleucid Asia, and
Greek Macedonia
 These three empires we call “Hellenistic” because they spread
“Greek influence” broadly until the time of Christ.
 Hellenistic Civilization means “Greek like” – not pure Greek.
Essentially a combination of Greek and Persian cultures
 A key feature of Hellenistic culture was trade, opened up by
Greek leaders the new empires and their interest in commerce.
 New cities ring Mediterranean and become cultural and
population centers (Alexandria, Antioch, etc.)
 Demographic and commercial movement much freer than
before—less animosity between regions
 Greek language spreads throughout ancient world
 Hellenistic science was the most advanced in the western world
until the 17th century
Hellenistic Architecture
 Architecture became
grander, fitting the
despotic style of Persia
and Egypt
 Standard feature the
Corinthian column;
more ornate than Doric
and Iconic columns
 Examples: Lighthouse
of Alexandria and Corinthian column, 3rd century
Pergamon Altar to Zeus B.C., Temple of Apollo (Turkey)
(Asia Minor; now Berlin)
Hellenistic Art: Sculpture
 Sculpture became more
dramatic, sensual, and
flamboyant, replacing earlier
modest style
 Awkward human postures
considered to offer the
greatest challenges
 Statues show realism and
pathos, unlike earlier
idealized statues
 Look for extravagant facial
furrows, muscular
distensions, complex
drapery, and emotion Body of Zeus, Pergamon Altar
(Asia Minor, now Berlin)
Hellenistic Art: Furrowed brows!

Emotional “Gorgon” sculpture, 180 B.C.

 Hellenistic Art: Intense emotionalism

Laocoon, 1st century B.C. (Laocoon & sons are being killed by serpents sent to
kill them by Poseidon for warning the Trojans not to touch the wooden horse)
Hellenistic Art: Pathos, Suffering, and
Dignity

Dying Gaul , 220 B.C. (Pergamon, Asia Minor)

Hellenistic Philosophy: Epicureanism
 New trends: Epicureanism and Stoicism.
 Both philosophies offer advice for dealing with human
problems: through reason life can be made more
bearable and meaningful
 The spread of these philosophies can be seen as the
further success of Greek cultural ideas.
 Epicurus (341-270 B.C.) and Epicureanism. Key
points in Principal Doctrines:
 Focus on your own life—take control by pursuing
pleasure and peace of mind
 Reject Platonic idea of spiritual realm. No ultimate
good; do what makes you happy
 Avoid public service and escape; party while the world
goes about its crazy business
Hellenistic Philosophy: Stoicism
 Stoicism (c. 300 B.C.), founded by Zeno, an Athenian
 Ideas from Stoic Manual of Epictetus (60 A.D.):
The goal of life is focusing on your own mind—settle the
mind so that you can cope with uncertainty and pain
 The cosmos is an ordered whole in which all contradictions
are resolved for virtue and ultimate good
 Fate controls the world—we are not masters of our destiny,
but we must learn to deal with what we have been given
 Submit to the order of the universe to receive tranquility of
mind. Don’t whine or act bitter
 Do not withdraw as the Epicureans, but perform your civic
duty. But be a pacifist, egalitarian, and humanitarian
 Can you see the roots of our modern understanding of stoic in
these writings?