Introduction
When we refer to the roman arts, we refer to those visual arts which were made in the ancient Rome as well as in the Roman Empire, this includes the roman territories. Basically, the major forms of the roman arts included painting, mosaic work, sculpture as well as architecture.
The traditional view of most roman artists was that what they were doing was a copied work from the Greeks who had done it in the past. So to the Romans, they were not doing their own original job. However, as much as I am concerned, the roman artists are just good. They are very creative in that despite the fact that they do rely on the Greek art, they make use of the Italian styles as well and sometimes the Egyptian one. Finally, they do come up with a very nice works. This could be the most distinctive feature in the roman art.
The Greek influence on the roman art
Both the Greek and the roman arts are always refer to as the classic arts. Basically, this title has been used in describing the later periods in which artists looked for inspirations to the ancient style. The Romans came to learn of sculpture through their Greek friends. There two arts helped so much in the transmission of the roman art in the later ages. So foundationally, we can say that the roman art has its roots in the Greek arts. (Basil 26)
Secondly, I have mentioned that both the Greek and the roman art were referred to as the classic art. This classical art has a lasting influence due to its reasonableness, humanity, its humanity and its beauty. However, this art has its origin in Greece back around mid 15th century.. at the time when the Greek artists in Greece were solving problems that were related to arts, the Greek artists had learned a lot and could present human actions, in their arts. So in all the influences that were credited to the classical arts, the roman art owes the Greek art credit.
The Romans generally lacked noble ideas and emotions to decorate their artistic works. The arts business became very fashionable and the element of religion faded. So the roman art again borrowed the religious elements from the Greeks. They copied their statues and finally managed to develop some of their original work with religious aspects. These included antnous among others.
Also, we find that the roman generals plundered into the cities of Greece in the second century BC and started carrying home the Greek statues in order to help grace their heroic processions. At this time, very many Greek artists also went to Rome to witness this patronage. The Greeks were then used by wealthy Romans to build villas and then filled them with them with the Greek sculptors which were influenced by the Greek traditions. At the end, we find that the Greek tradition transformed the roman art. The architecture the same time was also influenced and many roman architects copied new the style that was from Greece.
Greek influence on the roman literature
The Greek literature had a lot of influences on the roman literature. To start with, in addition to the Greek way of thinking and writing, they also wonderfully expressed ideas or feeling in a nice language. In this language people in the Roman Empire were influenced to a lot of things. However, this influence on language of the Greek did not only touch the Romans but the world at large. It transformed and revolutionized the human thinking. And thus almost every sector of the human life was affected by this Greek language influence. (Kleiner , 29)
Apart from language, the Greeks also influenced the Romans through their literary works. The ancient Greek works which included the odyssey and Iliad; the Hesiod among others really influenced the roman way of dealing with poems. The art of poetry generally originated from the Greeks.
In the Roman Empire the Greeks were seen as the custodian of knowledge. They were consulted on various educational issues especially depending on the literary works that they were producing. This influence on literature also spread to the religious sphere where religion was majorly spread in the Roman Empire through literature. Generally, the Greeks literature influenced the roman presentation and wording i.e. language.
Conclusion
The Greeks were ahead almost in every sector especially on issues that dealt with knowledge and innovation. In this line they had a lot of influence on the people neighbouring them and in the Roman Empire as a whole.
Works cited:
Basil D. (ed) The Portable Roman Reader. Viking Library, Michigan, 1951
Kleiner, F. S. A History of Roman Art. Thompson Wads. Belmont, 2007
