Temple of Hera at Paestum Lecture Notes

General Information

• Date: 1550 BCE
• Dimensions: ~100 feet by 175 feet
• Materials: Marble, unreinforced stone masonry
• Construction Technique: Post and lintel
• Architectural Order: Doric

Architectural Features

• Columns: Heavy, closely spaced
  • Problem: Obstructs view from outside
• Interior: Missing (fallen roof and pediment)
• Optical Corrections: Use of entasis for perfect proportions
  • Example: Pythagorean theorem (2:1 ratio) applied to columns

Pediment Sculpture

• Example: Temple of Artemis
  • Medusa figure in pinwheel fashion
  • Space utilization: Pediment large in center, tapers at ends
  • Missing sculptures outlined

Greek Sculptural Evolution

• Scythian Treasury at Delphi (530 BCE) & Temple of Aphaia (500 BCE)
  • Scythian Treasury: Non-peripheral, female figure columns, painted frieze
  • Temple of Aphaia: Doric, triglyphs and metopes
    • Pediment Sculptures: Transition from Archaic to Classical period
      • Archaic: Silly smile, unrealistic
      • Classical: Realistic depiction, weight shift (contrapposto)

Key Terms

• Antasis/Entasis: Optical treatment for perfect proportions
• Contrapposto: Weight shift in sculpture
• Archaic Smile: Characteristic smile of Archaic period sculptures
• Pythagorean Theorem: Mathematical ratio (2:1) used for proportions

Important Figures

• Kritios Boy: Early example of contrapposto from the Classical period
  • Used as a grave marker, possibly had semi-precious jewel eyes
  • Significant due to realistic depiction of human stance

Miscellaneous

• Museum: On-site museum holds much of the metopes and triglyphs
• Archaeological Findings: 19th-century photographs show damaged sculptures and reunification efforts in the Acropolis, Athens