Piraeus Apollo
Encyclopedia
Piraeus Apollo is the name of an archaic-style bronze dating from the 6th century BC,possibly from the years 530-520 BC,exhibited now at the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus
(Athens
).Apollo was the god of the ideal order and balance and the depictions of naked young men in the Kouros
(young male) type are believed to be representations of the god.This bronze-statue seems to be the last stage in the development of the formal almost static Kouros
type that survived for a long time from the early Archaic period
(640-580 BC).
Originally the Kouros type represented the archaic-thought that nature expresses itself in ideal everlasting simple-forms which can be traced by the senses and depicted in a way of illusive-reality.Matter was not regarded lifeless but something full of life,in an almost animistic belief.These ideas seem to go parallel with the natural- philosophical conceptions of Thales
from Miletus
who searched a simple material-form behind the appearances of the things and also believed that matter was alive (υλοζωϊσμός).This material character is paralled in sculpture by the absolute representation of blooming life through unatturally simplified forms.
Piraeus Apollo belongs to the late archaic period
(530-480 BC) in which the Greek sculpture attained a full knowledge of human anatomy and used to create an harmonious whole.It is ranking among the very few such bronzes survived till to us.The statue seems to differentiate from the previous formality and represents a kind of motion.The symmetry and the analogies of the members are closer to the post-archaic sculpture which gives more emphasis not to the illusive reality but to the analogy and the interaction of each member with the others in the whole.In the last few decades of the 6th century the philosophical mystic currents were to have a considerable influence on late archaic art.The logical move from Ionia
n natural philosophy to metaphysics was the conscious decision of post-archaic mind.In post-archaic period the illusive imaginative reality was subsituted by harmony and symmetry.
The method of interaction and analogy was perfected by Polykleitos
in classical period
.He used the principle of continuity and in his famous sculptures each member transmitted to the next a part of his existence,therefore there was an harmonious analogy with the rest members.It seems that his canon
(κανών:norm,standard) was a standardization which in his opinion led to the ideal form.He was probably influenced by the metaphysical
theory of Pythagoras
who believed that behind each object there was a mathematical relation that led to order and balance.The discovery of the perfect mathematical relation was a continuous attempt of the Greek architects.
The Greek belief of ideal forms was later extended by Plato
in his metaphysical theory of forms (ideai:ideas).The greek word idea (ιδέα:idea) has the same roots with the words idein (ιδείν:to see), eidos (είδος:species), and probably with oida (οίδα:know),therefore one must see something in order to know it.Originally the words were applied to such obvious forms as the human body.The transference of the words from visible to invisible,show how the Greek mind moved from the gift of senses to the principles behind them which were also used in the art of sculpture.
Archaeological Museum of Piraeus
The Archaeological Museum of Piraeus, Attica, contains mainly sculptures, discovered in Piraeus and in the area of the Attic coast from Bronze Age to Roman times -Collections:The museum's displayed objects are divided in sections :...
(Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
).Apollo was the god of the ideal order and balance and the depictions of naked young men in the Kouros
Kouros
A kouros is the modern term given to those representations of male youths which first appear in the Archaic period in Greece. The term kouros, meaning youth, was first proposed for what were previously thought to be depictions of Apollo by V. I...
(young male) type are believed to be representations of the god.This bronze-statue seems to be the last stage in the development of the formal almost static Kouros
Kouros
A kouros is the modern term given to those representations of male youths which first appear in the Archaic period in Greece. The term kouros, meaning youth, was first proposed for what were previously thought to be depictions of Apollo by V. I...
type that survived for a long time from the early Archaic period
Archaic period in Greece
The Archaic period in Greece was a period of ancient Greek history that followed the Greek Dark Ages. This period saw the rise of the polis and the founding of colonies, as well as the first inklings of classical philosophy, theatre in the form of tragedies performed during Dionysia, and written...
(640-580 BC).
Originally the Kouros type represented the archaic-thought that nature expresses itself in ideal everlasting simple-forms which can be traced by the senses and depicted in a way of illusive-reality.Matter was not regarded lifeless but something full of life,in an almost animistic belief.These ideas seem to go parallel with the natural- philosophical conceptions of Thales
Thales
Thales of Miletus was a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher from Miletus in Asia Minor, and one of the Seven Sages of Greece. Many, most notably Aristotle, regard him as the first philosopher in the Greek tradition...
from Miletus
Miletus
Miletus was an ancient Greek city on the western coast of Anatolia , near the mouth of the Maeander River in ancient Caria...
who searched a simple material-form behind the appearances of the things and also believed that matter was alive (υλοζωϊσμός).This material character is paralled in sculpture by the absolute representation of blooming life through unatturally simplified forms.
Piraeus Apollo belongs to the late archaic period
Archaic period in Greece
The Archaic period in Greece was a period of ancient Greek history that followed the Greek Dark Ages. This period saw the rise of the polis and the founding of colonies, as well as the first inklings of classical philosophy, theatre in the form of tragedies performed during Dionysia, and written...
(530-480 BC) in which the Greek sculpture attained a full knowledge of human anatomy and used to create an harmonious whole.It is ranking among the very few such bronzes survived till to us.The statue seems to differentiate from the previous formality and represents a kind of motion.The symmetry and the analogies of the members are closer to the post-archaic sculpture which gives more emphasis not to the illusive reality but to the analogy and the interaction of each member with the others in the whole.In the last few decades of the 6th century the philosophical mystic currents were to have a considerable influence on late archaic art.The logical move from Ionia
Ionia
Ionia is an ancient region of central coastal Anatolia in present-day Turkey, the region nearest İzmir, which was historically Smyrna. It consisted of the northernmost territories of the Ionian League of Greek settlements...
n natural philosophy to metaphysics was the conscious decision of post-archaic mind.In post-archaic period the illusive imaginative reality was subsituted by harmony and symmetry.
The method of interaction and analogy was perfected by Polykleitos
Polykleitos
Polykleitos ; called the Elder, was a Greek sculptor in bronze of the fifth and the early 4th century BCE...
in classical period
Classical Greece
Classical Greece was a 200 year period in Greek culture lasting from the 5th through 4th centuries BC. This classical period had a powerful influence on the Roman Empire and greatly influenced the foundation of Western civilizations. Much of modern Western politics, artistic thought, such as...
.He used the principle of continuity and in his famous sculptures each member transmitted to the next a part of his existence,therefore there was an harmonious analogy with the rest members.It seems that his canon
Aesthetic canon
A canon in the sphere of visual arts and aesthetics, or an aesthetic canon, is a rule for proportions, so as to produce a harmoniously formed figure.-Evolution:...
(κανών:norm,standard) was a standardization which in his opinion led to the ideal form.He was probably influenced by the metaphysical
Metaphysical
Metaphysical may refer to:*Metaphysics, a branch of philosophy dealing with aspects of existence and the theory of knowledge*The supernatural...
theory of Pythagoras
Pythagoras
Pythagoras of Samos was an Ionian Greek philosopher, mathematician, and founder of the religious movement called Pythagoreanism. Most of the information about Pythagoras was written down centuries after he lived, so very little reliable information is known about him...
who believed that behind each object there was a mathematical relation that led to order and balance.The discovery of the perfect mathematical relation was a continuous attempt of the Greek architects.
The Greek belief of ideal forms was later extended by Plato
Plato
Plato , was a Classical Greek philosopher, mathematician, student of Socrates, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Along with his mentor, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle, Plato helped to lay the...
in his metaphysical theory of forms (ideai:ideas).The greek word idea (ιδέα:idea) has the same roots with the words idein (ιδείν:to see), eidos (είδος:species), and probably with oida (οίδα:know),therefore one must see something in order to know it.Originally the words were applied to such obvious forms as the human body.The transference of the words from visible to invisible,show how the Greek mind moved from the gift of senses to the principles behind them which were also used in the art of sculpture.