Most free-standing Classical sculptures were of religious significance. They portrayed gods, figures from myth, or athletes, and they were dedicated at shrines. At the same time, the 5th century saw the appearance of sculptures in other public spaces. This trend became commoner in the century following. There were statues of heroes and politicians in the market-places, and statues of athletes and philosophers in the gymnasia. In the post-Persian war years there took shape the Severe style, spanning the transition from Archaic to Classical art. High Classical sculpture coincided with as a period of intensive building on the Acropolis. Lastly, there were the Rich style and Late Classical sculpture, spanning from the end of the 5th century to the age of Alexander the Great.



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