Hellenistic Period

    The Hellenistic period is extremely fascinating. To be in-between the era of ancient Greek and the surfacing of the Roman Empire is definitely a place of cultural transition. It seemed to be a period of high art and expanded philosophies and sciences. With Alexander the Great conquering a vast empire stretching from Macedonia to India the arts of the time were influenced by an array of different cultures. Poetry, science, sculpture, architecture, philosophy, and theatre advanced greatly in the Hellenistic world while setting a standard for eras to come.

With new confidence in their artistry Greeks began to employ various techniques, materials, and ideas into their art. They began to step away from idealism and focus on realism with the use of expressionism in the subjects. The sculpture of Laocoön and His Sons is an example of how emotion was mastered. It portrays human agony and suffering that, undoubtedly, provokes emotion in the viewer. Most sculptures before Laocoön show minimal or no emotion at all in the subject. The contorted faces of Laocoön and his sons were the pentacle of human suffering in the ancient world. Comparably, for standard’s sake, the Aphrodite of Knidos sculpture became the model for the female form in artistry. Her small bust, oval face, parted hair, and wide hips was popularized and exemplified in most ancient art. Both sculptures can be seen as influence in Christian art--Lancoön showing the suffering of Christ and Aphrodite giving Madonna her particular feminine form.

That’s not all the Hellenistic world influenced. The Hellenistic philosophies influenced Christianity itself and a lot of the thoughts we have today. From Plato’s Theory of Form’s to Aristotle’s influence on Alexander the Great which spread Greek culture throughout South Asia, Middle East, and the East. The thinkers of the time were able to exercise free thought which paved way for many new ideas about the world and its sciences. People were allowed to question things openly and rethink ethics and other abstract concepts.