The Classical period

The new realism could not be achieved by the old techniques of carving directly into a stone block, but had to be based on a modelling technique, building up the figures in clay on armatures, like a skeleton, and then copying into stone. The same technique was required for making bronze statues, which begin to be important, at life size, from the early 5th century, though few have survived.

Athens was not the only source. Olympia in south Greece has been mentioned, and there were distinguished sculptors from elsewhere, such as Polyclitus, with their own variations on the idealized norm. The Persian invasion of Greece and sack of Athens (480/479 BC) discouraged much work in Athens for some 30 years, but the city was the leader of a League against the Persians and rapidly grew wealthy again. Although the Persian Wars were a watershed in Greek fortunes they probably had no effect on the arts, other than to help Greeks recognize the new 'classical' mode as more appropriate to themselves than to the 'barbarians' they had repulsed. But the Parthenon is in its way commemorative of success over the Persians and political choice begins to determine much public sculpture.