Early Classical Period

History: 480 - 450 BCE. In the mid-fifth century BCE, Greek cities in Ionia were incorporated into Cyrus the Great's Persian Empire.  Therefore, Miletos led the Greek city-states of Asia Minor in a revolt, which began a tumultuous period of warfare between Greeks and Persians.  Finally, in 490 BCE the Athenians drove off the Persians at the mainland town of Marathon.  As a result, marathons today are in rememberance of the man who ran over 26 miles from Marathon to Athens to tell of the victory then died of exhaustion as he gasped out those final words.  However, in 480 BCE, the Persians returned with a vengeance and destroyed several cities, including Athens.  To counter this, the city-states, led by Sparta and Athens, united on land and sea and triumphed.  Athens emerged as the leading city-state from about 480 to 450 BCE, and some suspect their victory against Persia was the factor that accelerated their artistic development.

Artists: Polykleitos

• Develops "The Canon" to mathematically balance figures' proportions
• Uses contrapposto (described below)

Art:

• Figures are now more relaxed and natural
• Contrapposto-the use of balancing weight-bearing and free parts-is introduced

Patrons:

• Seek strong, heroic figures and stories in art