Greek culture evolved over several thousand years and has been immensely influential on the language, politics, educational systems, philosophy, science and arts giving rise to the Renaissance of Western civilization and again resurgent during various continuous revivals. Notably Greece is known as ‘the candle of Western civilization'.

Civilizations were already established in Greece in prehistoric times. Arts such as architecture, sculpture, weaving, pottery, music, jewellery making and painting have a long tradition in Greece. Little is known about the Paleolithic period, but quite a lot about the subsequent Neolithic period and civilization found in Macedonia and Thessaly.

Minoan and Mycenaean civilization (3000-1150 BC)

The first two major civilizations of Greece flourished in the Northeastern Aegean, the Cyclades, Crete and the Greek mainland. The trade-mark was the big-sized marble figures, the Kouros and Kore statues. The architectural remnants (palaces) the samples of pottery, stone carving (vessels), metallurgy (weapons), jewellery making and painting (murals) are impressive achievements, representative of the Bronze Age.

The classical period (5^th-4^th century BC)

The civilizations of the Geometric (9^th-8^th century BC) and the Archaic periods (7^th-4^6h century BC) are considered forerunners of this culture. The Greek artist invents his own self and creates god and man alike in a universe of perfect formal proportions, idealized aesthetic values and a newly found sense of freedom (see the Parthenon and the Charioteer of Delphi).

Hellenistic Art (3^rd-1^st centuries BC)

The subtle implications of greatness and humility of the high Classical era are replaced with bold expressions of energy and power during the moments of tension.