Ancient Greek Beauty

The word “nature” comes from the Latin word natura, which then dates back to physis from Greek, meaning “birth”. In turn, something natural means it has developed its characteristics without interference to its intrinsic qualities since birth. The Ancient Greeks valued the idea of physis to the extent that it influenced their views about everyday beauty. To understand what this means, it is necessary to uncover the true definition of everyday beauty. This concept is subjective and is used to describe something of aesthetic importance to a person or a group of people. It can be expressed through multiple ways such as sight, smell, or the idea behind a concept. In Greece, this concept was naturalism and was reflected in multiple forms including
In general, the art of an era reflects on an artist’s emotions and the beauty standard. Most sculptures in Greece were of a person in a relaxed pose wearing standard clothing and were portrayed with “unforced, life-like accuracy” (Cartledge 1). This art, used to show the ideal male body, did not heavily emphasize a key feature such as muscle, height, or facial appearance. Instead, what stands out in these marble statues is the unforced, plain composure that they possess. Although some may have “toned” muscles, such as the sculpture of Hermes, what is more significant is how the statue is accurate and realistic which supports how Greeks valued naturalism. Contrary to the Romans and Egyptians, the Greeks did not create abstract artworks that significantly stood out, because the Greeks had a different view on beauty. Romans and Egyptians, the latter especially, were more comfortable with objects and appearances farther away from their natural state than Greeks were (Sooke 1). Although Sphinxes are a part of Greek mythology, they were more commonly found in Egyptian sculpture because the Greeks focused on naturalism. What fascinated them more than mythological creatures was simply the human body in its own, natural state. Sculpture became even more focused on this when Greeks began creating “figures [that] were not artificially posed, as in the earlier
The most notable Greek architecture includes the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, and the Temple of Athena. To any observer, the most prominent features in these structures are the great marble columns, which were created specifically using geometry to provide a certain “harmony” to it (Cartwright 1). In order to appear natural, the Greeks measured the columns to lean in to the building ever so slightly to supposedly strike awe in the eyes of the viewers. More remarkable features of these columns include the fact that the Greeks crafted them by hand for years using a hammer and chisel. It took a total of nine years by countless workers to create and finish the Parthenon in the Athenian Acropolis (Cartwright 1). Modern buildings are built quickly with factory-made blocks and highly effective power tools which strongly contrasts to the natural Greek method of building. In their time, it was closer to an art that used natural resources and working by hand to create a meaningful building that stayed relevant to their culture. In such a fruitful environment, buildings were significant because “The arts reflect the society that creates them” (Hanson 1). When compared to today’s time, it is clear how greatly the Greeks valued naturalism because that concept is “engraved” in the Parthenon itself. Temples and buildings radiated a