Geometric Style in Ancient Greece

Introduction

• Geometric style is an ancient Greek art style, particularly prominent in vase painting.
• It emerged around 900 BCE and is recognized as the last purely Mycenaean-Greek art form before foreign influences became prominent around 800 BCE.
• Athens was the hub for this style, catering to the growing affluent class in new Greek cities.

Characteristics of Geometric Style

• Decoration: Vases feature painted horizontal bands filled with patterns.
  • These patterns are numerous, covering the entire vase.
  • Patterns are divided by triple lines into zones.
• Design Elements:
  • Shift from Proto-Geometric elements like circles and arcs to zigzags and triangles.
  • Introduction of new elements such as the meander and swastika.
• Visual Effect: Creates an undulating rhythm similar to basketry.

Motifs and Figures

• Artists used abstract motifs as well as figures of humans and animals.
• Figures were simplified into geometric parts:
  • Bodies as triangles.
  • Limbs as line segments.
• Narrative Development:
  • Patterns evolved to depict scenes such as funeral processions, sea battles, dances, and heroic feats.

Representative Artifacts

• Vases, small bronze and clay figurines, and decorative items like fibulae (safety-pin-like clasps).
• Gold bands with animal and human figures used for funerary purposes.
• Limestone seals.

Influence and Legacy

• Although the Geometric style gave way to the Classical style, its patterns continued to influence later Greek art.

Revision History

• Article was recently revised and updated by Chelsey Parrott-Sheffer.