ARS 394: Art & Myth in Ancient Greece - Module 1 - The Landscape of Greek Myth
The Landscape of Greek Myth Oceanos & Tethys
Iconography - symbolic representation Oceanos - heavily bearded shaggy hair semi-nude, muscular crab claws Tethys - mature female draped or semi-draped wings
The Landscape of Greek Myth Wilderness, Non-human creatures, Centaur
Centaur - half man/half horse lived in caves in the wild; hunted wild animals, weapons were rocks, tree branches; roamed in tribes iconography - torso, head & arms of man; legs & tail of horse; bearded & long hair represent untamed forces of nature; uncouth & uncivilized Centauromachy - battle against the Centaurs Battle between Lapiths & Centaurs - Wedding Feast of Perithoos Parthenon - South Metopes Temple of Zeus at Olympia - West Pediment Temple of Apollo at Bassai - Frieze Temple of Hephaestus at Athens - Frieze Vase painting
The Landscape of Greek Myth Delphi
Gaia - goddess of the earth Pytho (Python) - guardian snake of sanctuary Battle between Apollo & Pytho Pythia - oracle & priestess Pythian Games quadrennial games established - 6th c. BC Temple of Apollo Stadium term-13 Theater Omphalos - navel Center of the world Zeus & eagles Omphalos Stone, Delphi
The Landscape of Greek Myth Sea & Islands
Mediterranean Sea Aegean Sea - east of Greece Asia Minor = Anatolia; Turkey Ionian Sea - east of Greece Ithaca - home of Odysseus Crete - king Minos, labyrinth, Minotaur Cycladic Islands Delos - birthplace of Apollo & Artemis Naxos - Theseus abandons Ariadne, Dionysos discovers Ariadne
The Landscape of Greek Myth Earth - Wilderness, Satry
Mountainous topography of Greece - city-states centered in plains, ringed by mountains Antithesis of city vs. Wilderness city = civilization, culture, security wilderness = uncertain, dangerous, behavioral norms abandoned Wilderness Non-human Satry - rustic, male fertility spirit fond of wine, sexually licentious iconography - male human body, ears & tail of horse/goat; enlarged genitalia, erect phallus
The Landscape of Greek Myth Olympia
Panhellenic sanctuary - holy place open to all Greeks Origins prehistoric - 10th c. BC foundation of games - 776 BC; quadrennial games (celebrated every four years) closing of sanctuary - Edict of Theodosius, 391 AD Site Description by Pausanias Dedicated to Zeus but monuments to other gods Reconstruction of Sanctuary Plan of Olympia Temple of Zeus Temple of Hera Mythology Victory of Zeus over Kronos Zeus defeats his father Chariot race of Pelops Oinomaios - King of Pisa Hippodameia - daugher of Oinomaios prophecy chariot race Myrtilos death of Oinomaios murder of Myrtilos curse
Greek Mainland 3 parts:
Peloponnesos - island of Pelops; Isthmus Pelops Tantalos - sacriledge restoration of Pelops punishment Tartaros - "tantalize"
The Landscape of Greek Myth East Pediment of the Temple of Zeus
Preparation for the chariot race of Pelops & Oinomaios Zeus - god of oaths Seer from west pediment Old diviner (lamos?)
The Landscape of Greek Myth Amazons
Race of warrior women Variously located: Scythia Themiscyra Libya Asocial, shunned men, reared female children only A-mazos - "without a breast" Descended from Ares Iconography: short chiton or armor; helmet, arrow/bow, spear, or axe; shield Oriental costume (eastern dress & NOT East Asian) long trousers, sleeved jacket; dress associated with Persians Amazonomachy - battle with the Amazons Greek heroes - Achilles, Theseus Athenians Trojan War
The Landscape of Greek Myth Peloponnesos
Region: Arcadia Cities: Corinth Mycenae Argos Tiryns Sparta Sanctuary: Olympia
Northern Greece
Region: Thessaly Mt. Olympos Macedonia Philip II of Macedon Battle of Chaeronea Thrace
Central Greece
Regions: Attica Boeotia Cities: Athens Thebes Sanctuaries: Athens (Acropolis) Delphi Eleusis
The Landscape of Greek Myth Earth
3 large land masses: Europa Asia Libya division by water: Euxine (Black) Sea, Nile River, Pillars of Herakles (Strait of Gibraltar) Oceanos - river that encircles the earth; male divinity fresh water source of all waters sons - rivers of the earth daughters - springs & ponds Tethys - wife of Oceanos Location of Greece (Hellas); hellenocentric world view Anaximander - 6th c. BC pre-Socratic philosopher created one of the earliest maps
The Landscape of Greek Myth Mountains
Associated with the sacred; nearness to the sky location of divine residence site of birth of deity place of sacred event Mt. Olympos Mt. Othrys Central Greece Stronghold of the Titans Mt. Lykaion Peloponnesos Zeus reared here Mt. Helikon Boeotia Associated with Muses Mt. Ida Crete Birthplace of Zeus Mt. Parnassos Near Delphi Sacred to Apollo; home of Muses Mt. Kithairon Central Greece Site of Dionysiac rites
The Landscape of Greek Myth The Landscape of Unknown Places
Division of the universe: 3 - levels (Hesoid) Sky Earth Tartaros (realm of death) 4 - levels (Homer) Sky Earth Hades Tartaros Each division of universe was at equal distance from each other. Sky - roof of the universe, abode of the gods; always bright Earth - home of humans, also minor deities, some monsters; alternating light & dark Hades - place for human dead; always dark Tartaros - location for defeated gods & monsters; always dark
The Landscape of Greek Myth Athens
Early habitation - 7,000 BC? Upper City (Acropolis) & Lower City surrounding area. 5th c. BC population: 40,000 citizens (male); total: 150,000 - 400,000? Cecrops - the first king of Athens Contest for Athens (Athena - winner, planting olive tree) Erechtheion (Erechtheum) - preserves contest site. olive tree.
The Landscape of Greek Myth Nymphs
Female spirits of the wild; can live on land or in the sea different kinds - distinguished by habitat Dryad - nymphs of trees Naiad - of springs Nereid - the sea Oceanids - the sea some are immortal; other live a long lifespan carefree; youthful; beautiful; under or over-developed sexuality
Hades & Tartaros
Hades - where people go after death gloomy, dark Tartaros - prison for immortal beings Hesoid description - bronze wall; deeply dark; vast
