2020 IB Extended Essays

7

highly detailed, theatrical pieces – a contrast in relation to sculptures from the Classical

Period.

Statuettes and Small Reliefs

Distinguished as another sub-category of Greek art, statuettes and reliefs were more

complex and were aimed to be of personal value, due to its small dimensions and

practicality when carrying them around. These are among the most popular products of

Greek art, as they enable a practical and efficient connection between the owner and the

piece.

Statuettes were dedicated to specific sanctuaries,

and often had inscriptions of the name of the deity

who, the offering was made. As statuettes and

small reliefs were initially based upon mundane

human and animal figurines during the Geometric

Period, these pieces slowly began to resemble

characters from common myths during the

Classical Period (Figure 5) . During the 1 st century

BCE, most statutes were centred around deities

Figure 4: ‘Perseus slaying the Gorgon’ ivory relief – Samos Museum (6 th century BCE).

and myths.

Coins

“The coins of Greece are in some ways her most characteristic product.” (Gisella Richter

1994). This currency for exchange soon changed into symbolising artistic emblems. The

designs of these coins differed between cities, initially it was the symbol of the cities’

local deity (being an animal or object) and later it became the figure of the deity itself (or

hero or mythological group. During the Archaic Period, Athenian coinage arose, where

coins bore the head of Athena and an owl as the emblems. During the Classical Period,