A Pictorial Visit @

By Irvin Engle May 2006 for Mythology English 160

In the case 1, straight ahead as you enter the room, look at the large

vases. Three of these represent events in the life of Achilles.

What three events are represented?

B l a c k F i g u r e A m p h o r a G r e e k ( A t h e n s ) c a . 5 2 0 - 5 1 0 B . C .

1

T h i s v a s e d e p i c t s K i n g P r i a m o f T r o y c o m i n g t o c l a i m a n d p a y r a n s o m

f o r t h e b o d y o f h i s s o n H e c t o r .A c h i l l e s w h o k i l l e d H e c t o r i n

s i n g l e b a t t l e g r e e t s t h e e l d e r l y k i n g .

H y d r a w i t h t h e F i g h t o f A c h i l l e s a n d M e m n o n G r e e k ( C o r i n t h ) ,

L a t e C o r i n t h i a n 5 7 5 - 5 5 0 B . C .

2

T h i s j u g d e p i c t s t h e b a t t l e f r o m t h e T r o j a n W a r o f t h e c l a s h i n g b a t t l e b e t w e e n A c h i l l e s a n d M e m n o n i n

t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e i r m o t h e r s , t h e g o d d e s s e s T h e t i s a n d E o s .

B l a c k F i g u r e A m p h o r a w i t h A j a x C a r r y i n g t h e D e a d A c h i l l e s

G r e e k ( A t h e n s ) 5 3 0 - 5 2 0 B . C . B y A n t i m e n e P a i n t e r

3

T h i s A m p h o r a d e p i c t s t h e d e a d A c h i l l e s b e i n g c a r r i e d f r o m t h e

T r o j a n B a t t l e f i e l d b y h i s c o m r a d A j a x .

Achilles RansomFor Hectors Body

Achilles Battle With Memnon

Ajax CarryingThe Defeated Achilles

I n C a s e s 1 a n d 2 e x a m i n i n g t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f w o m e n o n e c a n c o n c l u d e f r o m t h e s e e x a m p l e s o f G r e e k a r t t h a tt h a t w o m e n s r o l e s i n t h e c l a s s i c a l p e r i o d w e r e h i g h l y r e s t r i c t e d m o s t s p e n t t h e i r t i m e w i t h i n t h e p r i v a t e r o o m s o f t h e h o u s e e x c e p t i n r i t u a l o c c a s i o n s a n d t e n d i n g t o f a m i l y g r a v e s ( l i k e i n t h e A c h i l l e s b a t t l e w i t h M e m n o n ) .

U p p e r c l a s s w o m e n e n l i v e n e d t h e i r q u a r t e r s w i t h l u x u r y i t e m s , i n c l u d i n g e l e g a n t m i r r o r s a n d p y x i d e s , b o x e s f o r c o n t a i n i n g c o s m e t i c s a n d p e r s o n a l i t e m s e t c . a s d e p i c t e d i n t h e a r t b e l o w .

C a r y a t i d M i r r o r w / A p h r o d i t eG r e e k , c a . 4 6 0 B . C .

W h i t e - G r o u n d P y x i s w / M a e n a d sG r e e k ( A t h e n s ) , 4 6 0 - 4 5 0 B . C .

B y S o t h e b y P a i n t e r

R e d - F i g u r e A m p h o r a w / M u s i c a l S c e n eG r e e k ( A t h e n s ) , 4 6 0 - 4 5 0 B . C .

B y N i o b i d P a i n t e rT h i s g r a c e f u l f i g u r e s e r v e s a s a c a r y t i d o r h u m a n s u p p o r t f o r a m i r r o r .

T h e f i g u r e s p o s e d e m u r e g e s t u r e s a n d s i m p l e d r a p e r y c h a r a c t e r i z e

t h e e l e g a n c e o f E a r l y C l a s s i c a l S t y l e .

M a e n a d s l e a v i n g h o m e t o f o l l o w t h e w i n e - g o d D i o n y s i s , d a n c e a r o u n d

t h i s p y x i s , o r c o s m e t i c s c o n t a i n e r .T h e a n i m a l - s k i n g a r m e n t s , s n a k e s ,

a n d v i n e l e a v e s a r e t y p i c a l a t t r i b u t e s o fM a e n a d s a n d i n d i c a t e t h e i r a s s o c i a t i o n

w i t h t h e w i l d D i o n y s i a n r e a l m

H e r e i n t h e w o m e n s q u a r t e r s o f a h o u s e , t h r e e e l a b o r a t e l y d r e s s e d w o m e n

p r e p a r e f o r a m u s i c s e s s i o n .

4

In cases 1 and 2, examine the representation of women. What conclusion can you draw from these examples about the

way women are represented in Greek art?

In cases 1 and 2, examine the representation of women. What conclusion can you draw from these examples about the

way women are represented in Greek art?

A t h e n a i s d e p i c t e d a s a p o w e r f u l O l y m p i a n , p r o t e c t o r a n d n u t u r e r o f A t h e n i a n w e a l t h a n d p r o s p e r i t y .

B l a c k - f i g u r e P a n t h e n i c A m p h o r aw / D i s c u s s T h r o w e r

G r e e k ( A t h e n s ) 5 0 0 - 4 8 5 B . C .

T h i s d e p i c t i o n o f a s t r i d i n g a r m e d A t h e n a o n a P a n t h e n i a c A m p h o r e

w a s o n e g i v e n a s a p r i z e a t t h e p a n t h e n i a c f e s t i v a l g i v e n i n h o n o r

o f A t h e n a .

A t h e n a W i t h a n O w lG r e e k , 4 5 0 - 4 0 0 B . C .

A m a i d e n l y a n d m o d e s t A t h e n a i s d e p i c t e d h e r e w i t h h e r h e a d f o r w a r d

p e r c h i n g a n o w l o n h e r h a n d , t h e e m b l e m o f w i s d o m .

4 c o n t i n u e d . . .

In cases 3 and 4 on our diagram, are a collection of sculptures of Aphrodite. What difference do you notice in the representation of Aphrodite and the other female figures in the room,

for example, the muses in the center of this room at location 5?

5

C a s e s 4 a n d 5 h a v e a c o l l e c t i o n o f A p h r o d i t e S c u l p t u r e s f r o m t h e G r e e k H e l e n i s t i c 3 r d - 2 n d C e n t u r y B . C . i n c o m p a r i s o n w i t h w i t h t h e o t h e r f e m a l e f i g u r e d m u s e s i n t h e c e n t e r o f t h e r o o m o n e c a n s e e s o m e m a j o r d i f f e r e n c e s .O n e i s t h a t t h e m u s e s a r e m u c h l a r g e r . A n o t h e r b e i n g t h a t s i n c e t h e H e l l e n i s t i c r e p r e s e n t a i o n s o n c e b e i n g r e j e c t e d

f o r t h e i r e x p l i c i t n u d i t y ( 2 i m a g e s o n t h e L e f t ) w e r e n u d e a n d a r e G r e e k . H a d i n s p i r e d t h e m o r e t r a d i t i o n a l d r a p e d i m a g e s ( 2 i m a g e s o n t h e r i g h t ) a n d a r e R o m a n .

While Odysseus is visiting with the Phaiakians in the Odyssey, he hears their bard, Demodokus, sing a story about a time when Hephaistos's wife is discovered by her husband while she is having an affair. Location 6 is a relief carving of twelve Greek

deities. What can you notice about the arrangement of the gods in this sculpture that seems to be an allusion to that story about Hephaistos and his wife?

6

P r o c e s s i o n o f T w e l v e D e i t i e s L a t e H e l l e n i s t i c o r R o m a n ( T a r e n t u m ? I t a l y ) , 1 s t C e n t u r y B . C .

T h e f i g u r e s f r o m l e f t t o r i g h t a r e : H e s t i a ( G o d d e s s o f h e a r t h ) , w i t h s e p t o r ; H e r m e s ( m e s s e n g e r o f t h e G o d s ) , w i t h c a p a n d s t a f f ; A p h r o d i t e ( G o d d e s s o f l o v e a n d b e a u t y ) , w i t h v e i l ; A r e s ( G o d o f W a r ) , w i t h h e l m e t a n d s p e a r ;

D e m e t e r ( G o d d e s s o f a g r i c u l t u r e ) , w i t h s c e p t e r a n d w h e a t s h e a f ; H e p h a i s t u s ( G o d o f f i r e a n d m e t a l w o r k i n g ) , w i t h s t a f f ; H e r a ( Q u e e n o f t h e G o d s ) , w i t h s c e p t o r ; P o s e i d e n ( G o d o f t h e S e a ) , w i t h t r i d e n t ; A t h e n a ( G o d d e s s o f w i s d o m a n d t h e a r t s ) w i t h o w l a n d h e l m e t ; Z e u s ( K i n g o f t h e h u n t a n d m o o n ) , w i t h b o w a n d q u i v e r ; a n d A p o l l o

( G o d o f t h e s u n ) , w i t h k i t h a r a .

W h i l e O d y s s e u s i s v i s i t i n g t h e P h a i k i a n s i n t h e O d y s s e y a n d h e a r s t h e b a r d , D e m o k o d u s , s i n g a s t o r y a b o u t a t i m e w h e n H e p h a i s t o s w i f e i s d i s c o v e r e d b y h e r h u s b a n d w h i l e s h e i s h a v i n g a n a f f a i r .H e r e i s a p i c t u r e o f t h e r e l i e f c a r v i n g o f t w e l v e d e i t i e s . T h e r e i s a n o t i c a b l e a r r a n g e m e n t o f t h e g o d s i n t h i s

s c u l p t u r e t h a t s e e m s t o g i v e a n a l l u s i o n t o t h e s t o r y a b o u t H e p h a i s t o s a n d h i s w i f e b e i n g t h a t H e p a i s t u si s s e p e r a t e d a n d f o l l o w e d b y A r e s a n d A p h r o d i t e l e a d i n g t o t h e K i n g a n d Q u e e n Z e u s a n d H e r a s i m i l a r

t o D e m o k o d u s s t o r y o f H e p a i s t o s b r i n g i n g t h e m t o t h e k i n g a n d q u e e n a f t e r t h e y w e r e c a u g h t c o m m i t i n g a d u l t e r y .

For this next question, you need to walk into the nearby room for Ancient Near Eastern Art (see map).

In this room are works of art representing three characters from Gilgamesh. Who are they? While you're looking around, be sure to notice the many examples of

cuneiform.

7

P i c t u r e d o n t h e l e f t i s a r e l i e f e x c a v a t e d f r o m t h e s i t e o f T e l l H a l a f i n N o r t h e r n S y r i a i n a s m a l l c i t y - s t a t e k n o w n a s G u z a n a t o t h e A s s y r i a n s . I t i s o n e o f t h e m o r e t h a n 2 0 0 r e l i e f s t h a t d e c o r a t e d t h e f a c a d e o f t h e T e m p l e P a l a c e

b u i l t i n t h e 9 t h C e n t u r y B . C . b y a r u l e r k n o w n a s K a p a r a . T h e s e w e r e r e u s e d f r o m p r e e x i s t i n g s t r u c t u r e s a n d c a r v e d w i t h a n i n s c r i p t i o n i n c u n e i f o r m o n e a c h o n e s a y i n g , " P a l a c e o f K a p a r a s o n o f H a d i a n u " .

T h i s p a r t i c u l a r r e l i e f m a y i l l u s t r a t e t h e t a l e o f t h e M e s o p o t a m i a n h e r o G i l g a m e s h h i s c o m p a n i a n E n k i d o a n d t h e m o n s t e r H u m b a b a . T h o u g h i t s a y s i t m a y b e I s r a e l i a n d h a v e b e e n d e r i v e d f r o m t h e E g y p t i a n m y t h s

r a t h e r t h a n t h e M e s o p o t o m i a n .

M y t h o l o g i c a l C o n t e s tN o r t h e r n S y r i a n ( T e l l H a l a f )

1 0 t h - 9 t h C e n t u r y B . C .

R e l i e f B l o c k s a t T e l l H a l a f d u r i n g A r c h a e o l o g i c a l E x c a v a t i o n

For this next question, you need to walk into the nearby room for Ancient Near Eastern Art (see map).

In this room are works of art representing three characters from Gilgamesh. Who are they? While you're looking around, be sure to notice the many examples of

cuneiform.

7 C o n t i n u e d . . .

K u d u r r u ( B o u n d a r y S t o n e ) B a b y l o n i a n ( B a b y l o n ) , r e i g n o f M a r d u k - n a d i n - a h h e , 1 0 9 9 - 1 0 8 2 B . C .T h i s f i r s t e x a m p l e w a s f o u n d a t t h e t e m p l e o f E s a a g l i a , t h e p r i m a r y s a n c t u a r y o f t h e G o d M a r d u k

E c o n o m i c D o c u m e n t B a b y l o n i a n ( U r u k ) , N e o - B a b y l o n i a n P e r i o d , r e i g n o f N a b o n i d u s c a . 5 4 9 B . C .T h i s s e c o n d e x a m p l e w a s f r o m t h e t e m p l e o f t h e s k y G o d A n u a n d f e r t i l i t y G o d d e s s I s h t a r a t U r u k .

H e r e a r e s e v e r a l e x a m p l e s o f a n c i e n t c u n e i f o r m f r o m t h e B a b y l o n i a n r e i g n s o f M a r d u k & N a b o n i d u s .

This next set of questions refer to works of Hindu art. Use the attached map to find your way to the South Asian collection in Hackerman House.

In location 7 is a statue of one of the avatars of Vishnu. Which one? 8

T h i s s t a t u e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f o n e o f V i s h n u ' s A v a t a r s s h o w s a n e l e g a n t l y p o i s e d f i g u r e w h i c h s t o o d b e s i d e a m u c h t a l l e r i m a g e o f t h e G o d V i s h n u . C a r r y i n g a L o t u s ( s i g n i f y i n g t h e U n i v e r s e ) , h e i s t h e e m b o d i m e n t o f t h e l o t u s t h e G o d V i s h n u g e n e r a l l y h o l d s i n t h e l o w e r r i g h t o f h i s f o u r h a n d s . T h i s s t a t u e m a y b e a r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f V a m a n a

t h e 5 t h A v a t a r o f V i s h n u a D w a r f B r a h m i n s i n c e i t i s s o s m a l l i n s t a t u r e c o m p a r e d t o t h e i m a g e i t w a s b e s i d e .

L o t u s M a n ( P a d m a p u r u s h a )I n d i a ( M a d y a P r a d e s h ) , c a . 6 0 0 B . C .

In location 8 is a statue of a dancing Ganesha. Study this statue

carefully. What part of Ganesha's anatomy is broken off? 9

G a n e s h a I n d i a ( B i h a r ) , P a l a d y n a s t y 1 1 t h C e n t u r y

I n t h i s p i c t u r e o f a s t a t u e o f a d a n c i n g G a n e s h a o n e o f t h e h a n d s h a v e b e e n b r o k e n o f f .G a n e s h a s o n o f S h i v a w a s c r e a t e d i n t h e a b s e n c e o f h i s f a t h e r b y h i s m o t h e r P a r v a t i .

W h e n s h i v a r e t u r n e d h e d e c a p i t a t e d G e n e s h a . P a v a r a t i d e m a n d e d t h a t S h i v a r e p l a c e t h e c h i l d ' s h e a d , s e r v a n t s c a m e b a c k w i t h t h e h e a d o f a n e l e p h a n t .

In location 10 you will find a charming bronze sculpture of one of the avatars of Vishnu as a baby lying on his back.

Who is this avatar? 1 1 H e r e a r e p i c t u r e s o f a c h a r m i n g b r o n z e s c u l p t u r e r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e 8 t h A v a t a r o f V i s h n u , K r i s h n a

a s a b a b y l y i n g o n h i s b a c k . H e r e K r i s h n a i s b o t h a p l a y f u l c h i l d a n d a s u b s t i t u t e f o r V i s h n u I n a v i s i o n , a s a g e s a w K r i s h n a l y i n g o n a b a n y a n l e a f u p o n t h e c o s m i c o c e a n , r e c a l l i n g t h e r e c l i n i n g V i s h n u i n t h e s p a n

b e t w e e n w o r l d p e r i o d s .

C o s m i c N a r a y a n a ( V i s h n u ) a s I n f a n t K r i s h n aI n d i a ( T a m i l , N a d o ) 1 6 t h - 1 7 t h C e n t u r y