The revolutionary Orientalizing Period in Mediterranean art
These gold plaques depicting a winged goddess flanked by lions were created on the island of Rhodes during the so-called "orientalizing period." This reference in art history is used to describe a development in western art beginning in the latter part of the 8th century BCE when there was a heavy influence from the art of the eastern Mediterranean including Assyria, Phoenicia, and Egypt. During this time Greek motifs began to shift from geometric designs to the depiction of deities, animals, and mythological creatures. Two schools of thought exist regarding the question of whether or not Geometric art itself was indebted to eastern models. In Attic pottery, the distinctive Orientalizing style known as "proto-Attic" was marked by floral and animal motifs. It was the first time discernibly Greek religious and mythological themes were represented in vase painting. The bodies of men and animals were depicted in silhouette, though their heads were drawn in outline. W...