In Athens, for example, the Olympieion or Temple of Jupiter was built. There was a Hellenistic art in Egypt especially in Alexandria, there was a Hellenistic art in several parts of Asia: Pergamum, Rhodes, and Antioch, there was a Hellenistic art in Italy which contributed largely to the formation of the ancient Roman art, and there was even a Hellenistic art in Greece itself. Construction lasted 638 years (6th century BCE to 2nd century AD). The Temple of Olympian Zeus or Olympieion at Athens. We’ll see how, during this Hellenistic period, were created many of the architectural types imitated later by Rome.

Therefore, art and Greek history after the death of Alexander are called Hellenistic to distinguish them from the purely Greek or Hellenic from previous centuries. This period was called at first Alexandrian, but now to do justice to the peoples of Asia who contributed much or more than Alexandria to the latest evolution of the Greek art, it has been designated by the general name of Hellenistic period. It is logical that there was a great variety in the Greek art of this time because many people from different origins assimilated Greek styles. Greece was reborn in these adoptive lands: Alexandria, Pergamon, Antioch, Ephesus were then the new artistic capitals. Peoples of Asia and Egypt renewed their artistic styles based on Greek types. By then, the Greek world had expanded tremendously thanks to the conquests of Alexander. After losing faith in the old gods, the artists focused on themes that were more human, even the most insignificant and misshapen things were expressed by them. After the death of Alexander, at the end of the third century BCE, the Greek art experienced two centuries of surprising developments.

Impressionism artifact