Aegean Orientalizing versus Oriental Art. The Evidence of Monsters (original) (raw)

Aegean Orientalizing art of the seventh century marks a transformative period in Greek art, diverging from strict geometric styles to vibrant, fantastic imagery influenced by Oriental art. The paper explores the origins of Aegean Orientalizing styles through an analysis of the iconography of monsters, outlining a three-stage process of reappearance after the Bronze Age. Key figures such as centaurs and sphinxes are discussed, revealing their connections to earlier artistic traditions in the Aegean and the impact of Oriental motifs on local art.