This is a must see if you ever get a chance to go there, the theatre at Epidauros. It was built in the 4th century Bc according to Pausanias but archaelogical investigations date it to the 3rd century - however, whenever it was constructed, they did a good job as it's still in use today. The sounds is absolutely amazing, you can hear a whisper from the scene all the way up to the top row.
Alexander the great is a natural choice to begin the Hellenistic period (323-30 Bc) with so here we go, Alexander himself.
This is the very famous Alexande Mosaic, found in Casa del Fauno in Pompeii (It was therefore made before 79 Ad). The mosaic we have preserved here is not from the 4th century Bc but it's generally accepted that the motif is a copy of a much older frescoes. This would then be one of few remaining 4th century paintings and the motif is typical - Alexander at the Battle of Issos.
Here's another funerary lekythos in marble, this one from ca 390 Bc - notice how similar it is to the one yesterday in motif and shape!
This is a marble version of the lekythos shape that I posted a few days ago, used here as funerary monument. This kind of monuments are actually quite common and if you go to Athens you'll see a lot of them, not seldom with a small relief on the front as on this one - here a farewell scene between a seated and standing woman.
This is a so called lekythos, a type of vessel used for holding oil, the shape is recognizable by it's long neck and a single handle. This one dates to ca 350-340 bc and was found in Paestum. Assteas has been suggested as the painter - the motif is the garden of Hesperides where the golden apples were to be found (The 11th labour of Hercules was to steal an apple from the garden).
A loutrophoros is a distinctive vessel shape with two handles and a long neck, used to hold water during funerals and marriage rites. This one dates from ca 320-310 Bc and is possibly done by the so called White Sakkos painter, the scene depicts Pelops (The man who gave his name to the Peloponnesus, the big southern peninsula of Greece) and his wife Hippodameia.
This should have been posted about a week ago but I though that it would act as a good counterpart to the Dexileos stele. It dates to about 430 Bc and derive its name from the cat (?) under the bird cage at the left side. Notice how different the animal looks here compared to the one in this relief.
The young man is probably the deceased and under his arm a mourning boy.
This grave stele, dating to around 390 Bc, was put up to honour a young man who died in a battle against the Corinthians 394 Bc. The scene is familiar, a young warrior on horseback killing a fallen enemy. Notice the deep relief, the depth tend to increase during the century until the figures stand out from the stone almost completely.
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Most people would include the greater part of the fourth century (up to 323 bc, with the death of Alexander) into the classical period, and I agree with them. It is yet useful to discuss the 4th century on it's own. What we find is that the development during the earlier period continues, but with change sneaking around the corner.
This piece is called the Antikythera bronze (due to it's find spot in the sea close to the island with the same name, and you might reckon that the Artimisian Poseidon was found under similar circumstances), dates from ca 350 BC and the stance is typical for the period. The piece is normally interpreted as Perseus, who should hold Medusa's head in his right hand and a sword in his left, but a more recent theory argue that this is Paris with who hold the apple of strife (which led to the siege of Troy).
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