But still there were many advances to come as will be seen in the transition from Archaic to Classical Greek art. Classical Greek artists took what was already achieved and perfected it to a fully realized version of the human figure. They achieved this by adding such concepts as symmetria and rythmos. Both of these elements were essential to the development of the ultimate cannon. .
The idea of symmetria was very important. Symmetria means common measure of proportions not mirror symmetry. The figure was broken down into geometric parts and it was the controlled balance of these parts that created the symmetry. Another concern of the artist was that he had to balance the combination of flexed and relaxed muscles as well. If he achieved this, he achieved symmetria.
Rythmos worked in combination with symmetria. Rythmos meaning rythem, played off of the symmetry. The balance of stresses, flexed or relaxed muscles, and volumetric composition created the rythem within the sculpture that the human body naturally has. Another technique that was used to create rythem even in a figure at rest was the technique contrapposto. This means that the figure has and over all shape and composition, an s-curve, during a lack of movement. It was created by one leg bearing the body weight positioning the pelvic girdle at an angle with one hip higher while the shoulders responded in the tilt of the opposite direction.
Other characteristics of Classical Greek sculpture are square or rounded forms on the face, no longer pointed or exaggerated such as the eyes like in the Archaic sculptures. The Archaic smile was now replaced with a calm expression. The figure's weight was distributed more evenly and accurately. You began to see more dynamic poses through use of athletes as subject matter. Figures were now completely free standing where the Archaic figures limbs were bound in some way to their body.
