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What are the differences between Roman/Greek art? Also What is the difference between Roman/Greek architecture?

What are the differences between Roman/Greek art? Also What is the difference between Roman/Greek architecture?

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1. Sculpture is really our only link to the past, as the sculptures have survived whereas the paintings have not - except for Pompeii which is an anomaly in extant art- so my art answer will focus on that. All ancient art is related to two things, myth and victory. The Greeks portrayed their myths in vigorous detail, capturing such emotions as love, hate, fear, loathing, etc, They were also able to tableau the exact moment of most consequence - and in observing this, one must really look at the most notable works themselves to see the progression. Try google imaging a few notable examples; Artists: Myron, Polykleitos, Phidias, Lysippus. Their works, respectively, Marsalus, Discobolus (Myron) Doryphorous (Polykleitus) Knidian Aphrodite, Athena Parthenos, Olympian Zeus, (Phidias) Alexander the Great, (Lysippius). In terms of victory, one is able to trace the evolution of sport through those triathaletes - who were immortalised (and fed) due to their success. One is able to track the perfect body type of victors through these sports - in other words the physique of champions changed as the technique of the sport evolved. These works were revolutionary in their design and technique. The key note of all these sculptures is that the Greeks worked mostly in bronze. There is no work left of those key sculptors named above, instead, we have only their Roman copies, done in marble by students. Great art historians are able to discuss the sculpting school of various copies (I am not) and although the originals are lost to us, we are able to determine various innovations of the original creator by their copies. IN SHORT: Greeks worked mostly in bronze. Romans worked in marble. Greek art was about innovation, Roman art was about perfection. The Greeks portrayed mythical figures, sporting heroes, great thinkers and leaders. (Pericles) The Romans copied the above, but were also concerned with ancestor worship (the wax busts of ancestors would be displayed during great family affairs - mostly funerals) but also Emperors, and they were such good portrayals that doctors can sometimes diagnose the illness of certain emperors. Sorry it took me so long to say that, but in my view, it was the best way to arrive at these statements. It is much the same as architecture. The evolution of Greek architecture is measured most easily by the columns used - for they too reflected the style of architecture employed throughout the entire structure, but I won't go into that detail here. First came Doric (Plain, simple, strong), then came Ionic (Scroll, ram's horns, stylish) then came Corinthian ( leaf shaped, ornate, decorative). The Greeks, thanks to Pythagoras, utilised mathematics to its most ultimate use, the perfect shape. (You should at this point google 'phi' or 'the golden mean' and look at what, mathematically, is the most pleasing to the eye - which is why your windows logo is not in the exact centre of your screen ) So the Greeks gave purpose to their buildings, but the Romans, once again, perfected it. One notable example is concrete. The Greeks invented it, but they didn't perfect it, the Romans did. Some Greek cement, 2 thousand years old, still hasn't set - but the Romans could make cement/concrete that would set under water. (Volcanic sand is the key - thank you Vesuvius and Etna) The Greeks were inspired by the Egyptians, and the Romans were inspired by the Greeks. With each succeeding empire they incorporated the knowledge, brilliance, learning and skills of the previous, and when it came to Rome, they not only recognised but respected and absorbed the innovations of the cultures they conquered. Lastly, one must always ask, what would one be without the discoveries and innovations of those that came before? There are quite a few differences between Greek and Roman art and architecture, but those differences can only truly be evaluatied in light of their similarities. One cannot contrast these two cultures without first comparing them. They are linked in evolution, Rome could not have been without Greece, just as Homo Sapien could not have been without Australopithecus.