Greek Art
The Golden Age of art began when Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle began teaching and plays became popular in Greece. There is clear Athenian influence on art because Athens dominated Greece. Athenian general Percoles promoted art and architecture and ordered the construction of the Parthenon with the gold and ivory statue of Athena. Other classical Greek art and sculptures such as The Birth of Athena and The Battle between Poseidon and Athena were once colorfully painted. During the Classical period, the creation and decoration of pottery dramatically changed. The pictures on the pottery displayed mythological scenes, everyday life, and comedians. Great bronze sculptures were made during this time. Although they appeared unnatural, they were very in proportion. Sculptures stopped the tradition of sculpturing ideal men and women and began to sculpt realistically; sculptures had expressive faces. The Aphrodite of Knidos was one of the greatest sculptures of this time; it popularized the contrapposto pose, which puts the weight on one leg, making figures seem relaxed. David by Michelangelo displayed this pose. The Corinthian columns were popular too. Friezes were carved in reliefs on temples; they displayed mythological scenes. The friezes on the Parthenon displays gods, warriors, musicians, heros, and elders.
Roman Art
Roman art consisted of Doric, Ionian, and Corinthian columns and white busts of perfect men and women. Roman artists were influenced by the art of other empires such as the Etruscans. Artists were skilled in making clay sculptures and realistic depiction, a sign of heavy Greek influence on Roman art. However, Romans created much more realistic art and made sculptures bear great resemblance to the subject. Double chins, pockmarks, and receding hairline were all incorporated. Though sculptures displayed these imperfections, they still looked dignified and oppressive. Relief work was a distinctive style of Roman art and was displayed on temples and coins. Reliefs depicted military leader Augustus communicating with the gods and divine-like. Romans were also skilled architects. The discovery of concrete made the construction of arches, domes, and vaulted ceilings possible. The Pantheon, constructed with more than 5000 tons of concrete, is one the greatest domes in Rome. Its interior was marble, the heavier material was at its base, and the lighter material was at the top. The Colosseum was the greatest amphitheater in Rome and displays Doric, Ionian, and Corinthian column styles. It had intricate passageways, trapdoors, and pipes underground and a retractable roof. Wall art, preserved under ash in Pompeii, used white, yellow, and red as common colors and depicted mythological scenes. Scenes of battle and punishment became popular. Then, Christianity swept through Rome, and Roman art displayed Christian themes.
Early Christian Art
As Christianity spread, art forms changed from displaying humanistic pictures to more spiritual ones. Statues displaying religious aspects were not allowed, but relief sculptures and painting were fine. The artists of this time came from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds, so early Christian art style was completely new and combined of many different styles. Traditional Roman symbolism and pagan symbols were found in early Christian art. Modeling after the Romans, Christians began burying the dead in catacombs and decorating them. A common art form was the fresco, quickly painted and blended brushstrokes on top of another, giving it an impressionist rather than realistic look. On sarcophagi Christian sculptures carved historical and mythological scenes, portraits, animals, and nature motifs. The mix of Roman symbols and Biblical scenes such as Daniel and the Lion and Jonah and the Whale were also common. Unlike Christian art known today, early Christian art did not depict Jesus's crucifixion or the cross. Jesus was displayed as allegorical figures. Early Christian art was realistic and detailed, but size and position was distorted to show status. Since the cross could not be blatantly displayed, symbols of hidden crosses were common. After the Edict of Milan, Jesus, the cross, and other Christian symbols were clearly displayed in the form of colorful mosaics.
The Golden Age of art began when Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle began teaching and plays became popular in Greece. There is clear Athenian influence on art because Athens dominated Greece. Athenian general Percoles promoted art and architecture and ordered the construction of the Parthenon with the gold and ivory statue of Athena. Other classical Greek art and sculptures such as The Birth of Athena and The Battle between Poseidon and Athena were once colorfully painted. During the Classical period, the creation and decoration of pottery dramatically changed. The pictures on the pottery displayed mythological scenes, everyday life, and comedians. Great bronze sculptures were made during this time. Although they appeared unnatural, they were very in proportion. Sculptures stopped the tradition of sculpturing ideal men and women and began to sculpt realistically; sculptures had expressive faces. The Aphrodite of Knidos was one of the greatest sculptures of this time; it popularized the contrapposto pose, which puts the weight on one leg, making figures seem relaxed. David by Michelangelo displayed this pose. The Corinthian columns were popular too. Friezes were carved in reliefs on temples; they displayed mythological scenes. The friezes on the Parthenon displays gods, warriors, musicians, heros, and elders. 
Roman art consisted of Doric, Ionian, and Corinthian columns and white busts of perfect men and women. Roman artists were influenced by the art of other empires such as the Etruscans. Artists were skilled in making clay sculptures and realistic depiction, a sign of heavy Greek influence on Roman art. However, Romans created much more realistic art and made sculptures bear great resemblance to the subject. Double chins, pockmarks, and receding hairline were all incorporated. Though sculptures displayed these imperfections, they still looked dignified and oppressive. Relief work was a distinctive style of Roman art and was displayed on temples and coins. Reliefs depicted military leader Augustus communicating with the gods and divine-like. Romans were also skilled architects. The discovery of concrete made the construction of arches, domes, and vaulted ceilings possible. The Pantheon, constructed with more than 5000 tons of concrete, is one the greatest domes in Rome. Its interior was marble, the heavier material was at its base, and the lighter material was at the top. The Colosseum was the greatest amphitheater in Rome and displays Doric, Ionian, and Corinthian column styles. It had intricate passageways, trapdoors, and pipes underground and a retractable roof. Wall art, preserved under ash in Pompeii, used white, yellow, and red as common colors and depicted mythological scenes. Scenes of battle and punishment became popular. Then, Christianity swept through Rome, and Roman art displayed Christian themes. 
As Christianity spread, art forms changed from displaying humanistic pictures to more spiritual ones. Statues displaying religious aspects were not allowed, but relief sculptures and painting were fine. The artists of this time came from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds, so early Christian art style was completely new and combined of many different styles. Traditional Roman symbolism and pagan symbols were found in early Christian art. Modeling after the Romans, Christians began burying the dead in catacombs and decorating them. A common art form was the fresco, quickly painted and blended brushstrokes on top of another, giving it an impressionist rather than realistic look. On sarcophagi Christian sculptures carved historical and mythological scenes, portraits, animals, and nature motifs. The mix of Roman symbols and Biblical scenes such as Daniel and the Lion and Jonah and the Whale were also common. Unlike Christian art known today, early Christian art did not depict Jesus's crucifixion or the cross. Jesus was displayed as allegorical figures. Early Christian art was realistic and detailed, but size and position was distorted to show status. Since the cross could not be blatantly displayed, symbols of hidden crosses were common. After the Edict of Milan, Jesus, the cross, and other Christian symbols were clearly displayed in the form of colorful mosaics. 
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