AI – ‘In antiquity, art and architecture were intentionally designed to mirror human nature by emphasizing idealized anatomy, rational proportion, emotional expression, and the societal, political, and spiritual values of the people. This was achieved through, for instance, the Greek pursuit of arete (excellence) and the Roman focus on utility and power. 

Key Ways Art and Architecture Mirrored Human Nature:

• Idealized Humanism (Greece): Ancient Greek art, particularly during the Classical period, moved away from rigid forms to create highly realistic yet idealized representations of the human body, specifically the male nude. This reflected a belief in humanism—that man was the measure of all things, and that humans possessed the potential for divine beauty and intellectual perfection.
• Proportion, Symmetry, and the “Golden Ratio”: Architects and artists used mathematical ratios to reflect the harmony they perceived in both the human body and the universe. The Parthenon, for instance, mirrors these ideals through careful calculations of symmetry and balance, while the Vitruvian Man (later formalized by Da Vinci based on Roman thought) illustrated that the human body’s proportions were foundational to perfect architecture.
• The Anatomy of Emotion (Hellenistic Period): Moving beyond idealization, Hellenistic art in Greece and later in Rome began to mirror the complex, often chaotic, emotions of the human experience, such as suffering, agony, and passion (e.g., Laocoön and His Sons).
• Practicality and Authority (Rome): Roman architecture reflected the human nature of power, ambition, and social, practical needs. Innovations like concrete, arches, and massive domed structures (like the Pantheon) were designed for functionality, such as aqueducts and public baths, but also to assert the authority and grandeur of the empire.
• Verism and Individuality (Roman Republic): Unlike the idealized Greeks, Roman portraiture often embraced verism (realism), showing wrinkles, baldness, and age. This mirrored the Roman value of individual experience, honesty, and wisdom gained through life, particularly in the Republican era.
• Psychological Comfort and Nature (Roman Gardens): Romans used artistic,,, “virtual nature” walls and mosaics in their homes to create serene, natural environments that improved mental health and reflected a desire to escape the chaos of city life, demonstrating an awareness of the human need for tranquillity.
• Narrative and Social Structure (Egypt & Mesopotamia): In earlier civilizations, art was designed to reflect strict social hierarchies, religious, beliefs, and the divine role of rulers, with monumental structures acting as earthly mirrors of a divine, orderly cosmos.’