Greek Period

Resource 1: British Museum; London, England

Over two million artifacts from the collection are archived online at http://www.britishmuseum.org/.  Aside from the extensive collection within the museum, the Museum also offers a range of courses and events for teachers exploring the permanent collection and the special exhibitions.  There is also a plethora of activities and resources for students online, categorized by culture, by subject, and by age group.  This particular museum is so vast and varied that spending a day there wouldn't be enough. The collection ranges from Egyptian to Roman to Greek artifacts and more, with great information about culture, lifestyle, religious life, and more.

This is a wonderful resource for props, set design, actors (as far as viewpoint/background information on the life of characters, and even costuming.

Photo taken at The British Museum, London. 08-02-13. The British Library.

Photo taken at The British Museum, London. 08-02-13. Column Outside the British Library.

Photo taken at The British Museum, London. 08-02-13. Lely's Venus. First to Second Centuries AD.

Photo taken at The British Museum, London. 08-02-13. Red Figure Neck Amphora. 450-430 BC.

Photo taken at The British Museum, London. 08-02-13. Parthenon Pediment. 447-438 BC.

Photo taken at The British Museum, London. 08-02-13. Parthenon Pediment. 447-438 BC.

Photo taken at The British Museum, London. 08-02-13. Nereid Monument. 5th Century AD.

Photo taken at The British Museum, London. 08-02-13. The Erechtheum. 421-404 BC.

Photo taken at The British Museum, London. 08-02-13. The Erechtheum. 421-404 BC.

Photo taken at The British Museum, London. 08-02-13. Bronze Hand Mirror with Nike as Support. 400 BC.

Photo taken at The British Museum, London. 08-02-13. Pair of Gold Boat-Shaped Earrings. First to Second Centuries AD.

Photo taken at The British Museum, London. 08-02-13. Partying With Death. 440-430 BC.

Photo taken at The British Museum, London. 08-02-13. Bronze Burial Bowl & Gold Spray of Myrtle. 425-400 BC.

Photo taken at The British Museum, London. 08-02-13. Macedonian Warrior Helmet. 400 BC.

Photo taken at The British Museum, London. 08-02-13. Silver Snake-Head Bracelet. 350-300 BC.

Photo taken at The British Museum, London. 08-02-13. Gold Necklace & Floral Elements. 400-350 BC.

Photo taken at The British Museum, London. 08-02-13. Bronze Cups: 375-350 BC; Black-Glazed Ribbed Amphora (Large Wine Jar): 4th Century BC.

Photo taken at The British Museum, London. 08-02-13. Apulian Red-Figured Volute-Krater. 400 BC.

Photo taken at The British Museum, London. 08-02-13. Two Wooden Auloi (Music Pipe). 500 BC.

Photo taken at The British Museum, London. 08-02-13. Bronze Cuirass (Breastplate). 4th Century AD.

Photo taken at The British Museum, London. 08-02-13. Bronze Arrow-Head. 4th Century BC.

Photo taken at The British Museum, London. 08-02-13. Bronze Helmet of Attic Type. 5th Century BC.

Photo taken at The British Museum, London. 08-02-13. Marble Forepart of a Colossal Chariot Horse from the Quadriga. 350 BC.

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Resource 2: Book Period Style for the Theatre, by Douglas A. Russell

This book is the most useful, well-laid out book that covers a span of time from the ancient world all the way up to the modern world. Sections within each time period include costuming and accessories, acting and movement, directing information, information on the theatre itself, world/history events that were going on at the time, art and sculpture, how to design for that time, and specific plays of the time.

General Greek Info:

• Love of bright colors
• Furniture had a lot of curved lines
• Vases and urns had pictures on them
• Focus on religion--don't piss off the gods!

Information on Architecture:

• Simple & formal design
• Geometric patterns
• Built square around an open central courtyard
• Portico: porch
• 3 types of Columns: Doric (simple, smooth or fluted edges); Ionic (more detail, visually are taller, more elegant, have scrolls as decoration); Corinthian (Late classical; even more detailed with things such as lotus blossom)

Greek costuming:

• Chiton: Folded rectangle draped around the body
• Himation: Draped shawl/longer robe that was worn by both men and women
• Ionic chiton was pinned in multiple places to create a sleeve
• fibula: Arm bone of a bird/small animals used as a pin
• belting and girdling around underarm

**GREEKS DID NOT WEAR TOGAS!**

Movement:

• Minoan movement would have reflected graceful serpentine lines
• Classical Greece was beautiful and graceful and was result of constant physical exercise, sports and training
• Mycenean interest in rough, harsh and heavy would have led to a body movement projecting powerful animal strength
• Archaic Greek times would stress formality and control
• Actors primarily faced the audience directly or stood in a 3/4 turn
• They had limited physical contact with one another and almost never sat down

Theatre:

• Masks were used a lot, which instantly identified the character as old, young , happy or sad
• Masks were simple and lightweight
• Cothurni: Large raised shoes used in theatre to show the status of the character
• Comedy was not as accepted