13.2 The influence of democracy on artistic production

Democracy in Athens sparked a revolution in public spaces and art. The Agora became a hub for political debates, while stoas and buildings like the Bouleuterion facilitated civic engagement. These spaces embodied the spirit of isonomia, equality before the law.

Art flourished under democracy, reflecting its values. Realistic sculptures celebrated individuality, while theater tackled social issues. Citizens actively participated in artistic production, sponsoring performances and commissioning works that expressed civic pride and democratic ideals.

Democracy and Public Spaces

The Rise of Athenian Democracy and Isonomia

Top images from around the web for The Rise of Athenian Democracy and Isonomia

• 

  On the life (and deaths) of democracy | University of Cambridge View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Athenian democracy - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Voting with the Ancient Greeks | Getty Iris View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  On the life (and deaths) of democracy | University of Cambridge View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Athenian democracy - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for The Rise of Athenian Democracy and Isonomia

• 

  On the life (and deaths) of democracy | University of Cambridge View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Athenian democracy - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Voting with the Ancient Greeks | Getty Iris View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  On the life (and deaths) of democracy | University of Cambridge View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Athenian democracy - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Athenian democracy developed in the late 6th century BCE, granting political power to male citizens
• Isonomia, the concept of equality before the law, became a fundamental principle of Athenian democracy
• All male citizens had the right to participate in the assembly (ekklesia) and serve on juries
• Athenian democracy was a direct democracy, where citizens actively participated in decision-making processes

Public Buildings and Spaces in Democratic Athens

• Public buildings and spaces played a crucial role in the functioning of Athenian democracy
• The Agora, the central public space in Athens, served as a marketplace and a gathering place for political discussions and debates
• Stoas, long covered walkways with columns, were built around the Agora to provide shelter and space for various activities (Stoa of Attalos, Stoa Poikile)
• Other important public buildings included the Bouleuterion (council house), the Tholos (dining hall for officials), and the Pnyx (meeting place for the assembly)
• These public spaces facilitated the exchange of ideas and encouraged civic participation among Athenian citizens

Art and Civic Life

Theater and Its Role in Athenian Society

• Theater played a significant role in Athenian civic life, with performances held during religious festivals (City Dionysia, Lenaia)
• Tragedies and comedies were performed in open-air theaters, such as the Theater of Dionysus in Athens
• Plays often addressed contemporary political and social issues, serving as a means of public discourse and critique
• Playwrights like Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides (tragedies), and Aristophanes (comedies) were renowned for their works that engaged with Athenian society

Realism and Individualism in Classical Greek Sculpture

• Classical Greek sculpture (480-323 BCE) embraced realism and individualism, departing from the idealized forms of the Archaic period
• Sculptors aimed to capture the natural proportions, movement, and emotions of the human body (Kritios Boy, Doryphoros)
• Portraiture became more prevalent, with sculptures depicting specific individuals rather than generic types (Portrait of Pericles, Portrait of Socrates)
• The emphasis on realism and individualism in sculpture reflected the values of Athenian democracy, which celebrated individual achievement and expression

Civic Participation and the Arts

• Civic participation extended to the arts, with citizens actively engaging in artistic production and patronage
• Wealthy citizens sponsored choruses for theatrical performances and commissioned sculptures and paintings for public spaces
• Artists, such as the sculptor Phidias and the painter Polygnotus, were highly regarded and played a significant role in shaping the visual culture of Classical Athens
• The arts served as a means of expressing civic pride and promoting the values of democracy, as seen in the sculptural program of the Parthenon, which celebrated Athenian achievements and identity