Problems and features of temple sculpture - The Greeks built temples for display. They were meant to impress and provide great beauty for all to see.

        Friezes were another problem for artists they ran along the outside of the temples and were a predominant feature, but were also difficult to design successfully.  The difficulties with friezes were that they were long and narrow, therefore fitting the characters in and in the correct proportions was hard.  Again, a scene would have to be identifiable instantly.  The frieze of Siphnian Treasury, portraying the Battle of gods and giants is what I think to be an excellent example of a frieze.  As the frieze was made out of marble finer detail could be added, this was good because the more detail the greater the realism.  On the left of the frieze are the gods and a lion which pulls the golden chariot of Cybelle and on the right the giants with there three shields.  The figures are all slightly bent down, thus meaning if they stood up straight they would still be in the right proportion.  The artist has managed to fill the space exceptionally well, with a dead body lying vertically along the ground, also adding drama, the repeating patterns of the shields and the many men fighting.  Although, in the centre of the frieze is a giant fleeing, his body is facing to the right and his head has done a 180° turn which is an implausible position.  I think that the creases of Apollo and Artemis’s clothes are very cleverly done and adds to the realistic effect.  Overall, I think that this frieze is magnificently represented and beautiful.  

        The one other main focal point that artists confronted was the pediments these faced the east and west and were where the entrances to the temples stood.  The problems that the artists faced with the pediments were there unusual shape, triangular. Also, a scene had to be fitted in the correct proportion, have a consistent scale and be identifiable.  In the west pediment of the Temple of Aphaia at Aegin the artist has cleverly shown The Greeks fighting the Trojans.  This scene is in mid action with Athene standing domineeringly in the centre of the pediment.  This symbolises the power of the gods, watching over the struggle.  As the area slopes down to the corners the artist has got the men kneeling, falling down and dying filling the space.  I think this pediment shows an amazing battle scene and is very interesting.

        Generally I feel that the artists of temple sculpture managed to overcome these problems and made beautiful and very attractive historical pieces of art.

Cecily Wearne US1Y