Hellenistic art, not to mention architecture, was a time of dramatic transformations that significantly dissuaded the Greek classical period. Although classical Greek concepts were not entirely abandoned, the Hellenistic period broadened formal horizons with dramatic poses, sweeping lines, and high contrast of light, shadow, and emotion, something very different from the ideas of classical artists. The conventions and rules of the Classical period gave way to experimentation and a sense of freedom that allowed artists of the Hellenistic period to explore their subjects from unique viewpoints that they had never done before. The Altar of Zeus in Pergamon is the perfect representation of the Hellenistic period. Pergamum contained the altar of Zeus in the same way that the Athenian acropolis contained the Parthenon and is considered by Greek art historian Gisela Richter to be "the most famous altar of the Hellenistic era" (Handbook 32). The Pergamon Altar is particularly suitable as an ideal example of 2nd century Greek culture, linked to the ideals of the people, and displays Hellenistic characteristics that define the era just as the Parthenon is a staple in the classical period. [Stokstad]The Altar of Zeus is currently on display in Berlin, Germany for anyone to see and it is assumed that the temple was dedicated to Zeus or that its purpose, other than being a tribute to Zeus/the gods, was mostly used for the celebration of the Pergamum people towards anyone who opposed them. As Richter explains, “The altar in an open enclosure preceded the temple as a place of worship and later remained an essential addition to the temple, being placed within it, or more commonly outside, facing the entrance. Generally it was... middle of paper... somehow the Parthenon in Athens, thanks to its powerful imagery, has become recognized as one of the most marvelous examples of Hellenistic art and architecture. Works Cited Cothren, Michael W. "Art of the Ancient Near East." History of art Ancient art. By Marilyn Stokstad. Fourth ed. Print.Oniani, Giovanni. Art and Thought in the Hellenistic Age: The Greek Worldview 350-50 BC London: Thames and Hudson, Ltd., 1979. Richter, Gisela MA A Handbook of Greek Art. London: Phaidon Press, 1967. --- Sculpture and the sculptors of the Greeks. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1930. Sakoulas, Thomas. "The Parthenon Frieze." Ancient Greece. Network. November 28, 2011. .Sakoulas, Thomas. "The Parthenon." Ancient Greece. Network. November 28. 2011. .