Classical Greek Sculpture

Metope from the Parthenon

One of the most famous sculptors of the Classical period was Phidias (FI-dee-ass). His most famous work does not survive: it was a great gold and ivory (chryselephantine) statue of Zeus for the temple of Zeus at Olympia, made about 440 BC. It was taken to Constantinople and eventually burned in a palace fire there in 475 AD.

Phidias also was responsible for the sculptures on the Parthenon, though he could not have carved all of them himself because there are too many. The figures on the Parthenon represent human perfection, almost godliness.

The people (and the gods) are shown serene, calm, peaceful, in control of their emotions and their bodies, almost like dancers or as in Tai-Chi. People, to Phidias, and to other Greeks of this time, are wonderful creations of the gods, beautiful, strong, intelligent, and rational.

Doryphoros; Vatican museum, Rome

Another Greek sculptor of the classical period was Polycleitos (polly-KLY-tos), who carved the famous Doryphoros, meaning spear-carrier. Unfortunately this statue is lost, and only a later Roman version of it survives.

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To find out more about Classical Greek sculpture, check out these books on Amazon.com or at your library:

Greek Sculpture: The Classical Period, a Handbook, by John Boardman (1985). The standard text for introductory college classes.

The Archaeology of Greece: An Introduction, by William R. Biers (1996) This is NOT a children's book, but Biers writes very clearly and has a lot of good pictures.

Greek Art and Archaeology (3rd Edition), by John G. Pedley (2002) This is also NOT a children's book, but it has a lot of good information and is pretty readable. Plus, the author is really an expert in this field.