January 19, 2012
Oedipus solving the riddle of the Theban SphinxOxford Ashmolean Museum - Amphora (5th cent BCE) - Sphinx-Buch

Oedipus solving the riddle of the Theban Sphinx
Oxford Ashmolean Museum - Amphora (5th cent BCE) - Sphinx-Buch

4:30am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZshkRyE-68c1
(Notes: 6)
  
Filed under: oidipus greek antiquity mythology 
January 6, 2012
necspenecmetu: Jean-Baptiste Tilliard, Nestor and Philoctetes Console Telemachus Concerning His Combat with Hippias, book 16, 1773

necspenecmetu:

Jean-Baptiste Tilliard, Nestor and Philoctetes Console Telemachus Concerning His Combat with Hippias, book 16, 1773

6:02am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZshkRyEKh31I
(Notes: 52)
  
Filed under: philoctetes hero greek antiquity tilliard 1773 
December 27, 2011
"

“God from afar looks graciously upon a gentle master.” (in reference to a teacher?)

Aescyhlus. Agamemnon.

"

— http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2012/jan/12/do-classics-have-future/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=January+12+2012+issue&utm_content=January+12+2012+issue+CID_a8fc8c8b6aa59f1908ad21d711f2ef76&utm_source=Email+marketing+software&utm_term=Do+the+Classics+Have+a+Future

5:28am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZshkRyDqWqJ9
(Notes: 2)
  
Filed under: tragedy literature antiquity text greek aeschylus 
December 19, 2011
centuriespast: Two-handled jar (amphora) Greek, Late Archaic or Early Classical Period, about 480 B.C. the Flying Angel Painter, Museum of Fine Arts Boston

centuriespast:

Two-handled jar (amphora)

10:57pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZshkRyDUMjpU
(Notes: 20)
  
Filed under: antiquity greek pornography - 480 
December 18, 2011
The muse Polyhymnia, by Philiscus of Rhodes, 3rd century B.C. In Greek mythology, the nine Muses were the patron-goddesses of the arts. They were believed to be the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, a Titan who personified memory. During the Hellenistic period, the island of Rhodes was the home of a highly developed school of sculpture founded by Lysippus, sculptor to the court of Alexander the Great. His school continued to flourish well into the period of the Roman Empire.

The muse Polyhymnia, by Philiscus of Rhodes, 3rd century B.C. In Greek mythology, the nine Muses were the patron-goddesses of the arts. They were believed to be the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, a Titan who personified memory. During the Hellenistic period, the island of Rhodes was the home of a highly developed school of sculpture founded by Lysippus, sculptor to the court of Alexander the Great. His school continued to flourish well into the period of the Roman Empire.

5:15pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZshkRyDQSmgU
(Notes: 4)
  
Filed under: antiquity greek sculpture philiscus 
December 18, 2011
Water spouts in the form of a lion mask, ca. 100B.C.–100 A.D.; Late Hellenistic or Early RomanGreco-Roman; Said to be from KourionBronze These impressive objects must have adorned a monumental public fountain house (nymphaeum), probably in one of the more important Cypriot cities. The heads are attached to a bronze tube, encased in lead, of about 2 3/4 inches (7 cm) in length.

Water spouts in the form of a lion mask, ca. 100B.C.–100 A.D.; Late Hellenistic or Early Roman
Greco-Roman; Said to be from Kourion
Bronze

These impressive objects must have adorned a monumental public fountain house (nymphaeum), probably in one of the more important Cypriot cities. The heads are attached to a bronze tube, encased in lead, of about 2 3/4 inches (7 cm) in length.

3:32pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZshkRyDQK1ZI
(Notes: 13)
  
Filed under: antiquity greek cyprus -100 
December 18, 2011
“Boeotia Thebes. Circa 405-395 BC. Stater (Silver, 11.97 g). Boeotian shield. Rev. Q-E Head of bearded Dionysos three-quarter facing, turned slightly to the right, wearing ivy wreath; all within a very shallow circular incuse. BCD Boiotia 457 ( same dies ). Head, Boeotia p. 41 = BMC 104, pl. XIV, 9. Jameson 1164 ( same reverse die ). Very rare. An attractive and splendid coin of great beauty. Nearly extremely fine. From the collection of APCW, ex Nomos List 3, 2010, 60.This is surely the most majestic and noble facing head of Dionysos to be found anywhere on ancient Greek coinage. He has a serene beauty that is in contrast to the wild and orgiastic nature the god can have on other occasions; his eyes are clear here, and his gaze penetrating. It is interesting to note that the artist who made the dies for this coin seems to have been following a Theban tradition in not including any trace of the god’s neck, as with the facing heads of Herakles that appear on Theban staters about a generation earlier (BCD 422-423): this gives the portrait an ethereal, almost other-worldly feel, as if the god is actually looking out from a swirl of clouds at the viewer. ” Compare with the Dydima Apollo and the Celtic sky gods— despite the difference in facial expressions.

“Boeotia

Thebes. Circa 405-395 BC. Stater (Silver, 11.97 g). Boeotian shield. Rev. Q-E Head of bearded Dionysos three-quarter facing, turned slightly to the right, wearing ivy wreath; all within a very shallow circular incuse. BCD Boiotia 457 ( same dies ). Head, Boeotia p. 41 = BMC 104, pl. XIV, 9. Jameson 1164 ( same reverse die ). Very rare. An attractive and splendid coin of great beauty. Nearly extremely fine. From the collection of APCW, ex Nomos List 3, 2010, 60.

This is surely the most majestic and noble facing head of Dionysos to be found anywhere on ancient Greek coinage. He has a serene beauty that is in contrast to the wild and orgiastic nature the god can have on other occasions; his eyes are clear here, and his gaze penetrating. It is interesting to note that the artist who made the dies for this coin seems to have been following a Theban tradition in not including any trace of the god’s neck, as with the facing heads of Herakles that appear on Theban staters about a generation earlier (BCD 422-423): this gives the portrait an ethereal, almost other-worldly feel, as if the god is actually looking out from a swirl of clouds at the viewer. ”

Compare with the Dydima Apollo and the Celtic sky gods— despite the difference in facial expressions.

3:14am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZshkRyDOzpt6
(Notes: 2)
  
Filed under: bachhus greek antiquity coin -405 
December 18, 2011
“Messene. Circa 183-182 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 16.79 g 9). Diademed head of Demeter to right, wearing diadem formed of pearls and wheat ears, and a pearl earring. Rev. MESSANIWN Zeus Ithomatas standing right, hurling thunderbolt with his right hand and with an eagle with spread wings perching on the wrist of his outstetched left arm; below his left arm This coin was struck during a short-lived revolt of Messene against its forced membership in the Achaian League. Unlike other revolt coinages, which were withdrawn and melted down, the rare Messenian tetradrachms must have continued to circulate since the vast majority known today are quite worn; this is, in fact, one of the finest in existance. ” This composition may have originated with Hageladas.

“Messene. Circa 183-182 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 16.79 g 9). Diademed head of Demeter to right, wearing diadem formed of pearls and wheat ears, and a pearl earring. Rev. MESSANIWN Zeus Ithomatas standing right, hurling thunderbolt with his right hand and with an eagle with spread wings perching on the wrist of his outstetched left arm; below his left arm

This coin was struck during a short-lived revolt of Messene against its forced membership in the Achaian League. Unlike other revolt coinages, which were withdrawn and melted down, the rare Messenian tetradrachms must have continued to circulate since the vast majority known today are quite worn; this is, in fact, one of the finest in existance. ”

This composition may have originated with Hageladas.

3:07am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZshkRyDOyjkc
Filed under: coin antiquity greek -183 
November 15, 2011
Temple of Zeus The ancient Olympic Games were always held at Olympia in the western Peloponnese. Here, at the heart of the sacred precinct of Zeus, stood the magnificent Temple of Zeus, the chief god of Greek mythology, who was believed to bestow on athletes the prowess and skills that enabled them to excel in sport, and was thus inextricably bound up with the ancient Games. Among the remarkable works of art the temple once housed was the magnificent 13m-high gold and ivory cult statue of Zeus designed by Pheidias, which was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world (now destroyed). The image shown here is taken from the British Museum’s model of ancient Olympia. The real temple took ten years to build and was completed in 456 BC. The people of Elis, who controlled the Olympic Games, financed its construction with spoils taken during hostilities with neighbouring peoples. The temple gave the appearance of being constructed completely of marble, but in fact it was only the roof that was made of Pentelic marble - from the quarries near Athens - and the rest was made of local conglomerate stone covered in stucco. Its vast columns, over 2m in diameter and over 10m high, now lie toppled where they fell in a massive earthquake in about the sixth century AD. The site had always been prone to earthquakes, and the mystique of the area may have been responsible for the choice of the site as a sacred area - way back in prehistory. Over the centuries the sanctuary became densely populated with temples, shrines and altars - all standing in close proximity to facilities constructed for the Games, such as the stadium, horse-track, gymnasium and palaistra (where participants could practice wrestling and the long jump). Link: www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/greeks/greek_olympics_galle…

Temple of Zeus


The ancient Olympic Games were always held at Olympia in the western Peloponnese. Here, at the heart of the sacred precinct of Zeus, stood the magnificent Temple of Zeus, the chief god of Greek mythology, who was believed to bestow on athletes the prowess and skills that enabled them to excel in sport, and was thus inextricably bound up with the ancient Games. Among the remarkable works of art the temple once housed was the magnificent 13m-high gold and ivory cult statue of Zeus designed by Pheidias, which was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world (now destroyed).

The image shown here is taken from the British Museum’s model of ancient Olympia. The real temple took ten years to build and was completed in 456 BC. The people of Elis, who controlled the Olympic Games, financed its construction with spoils taken during hostilities with neighbouring peoples.

The temple gave the appearance of being constructed completely of marble, but in fact it was only the roof that was made of Pentelic marble - from the quarries near Athens - and the rest was made of local conglomerate stone covered in stucco. Its vast columns, over 2m in diameter and over 10m high, now lie toppled where they fell in a massive earthquake in about the sixth century AD. The site had always been prone to earthquakes, and the mystique of the area may have been responsible for the choice of the site as a sacred area - way back in prehistory.

Over the centuries the sanctuary became densely populated with temples, shrines and altars - all standing in close proximity to facilities constructed for the Games, such as the stadium, horse-track, gymnasium and palaistra (where participants could practice wrestling and the long jump).

Link: www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/greeks/greek_olympics_galle…

12:57pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZshkRyBypXcZ
Filed under: antiquity greek mythology cathedral zeus 
July 17, 2011
Heracles rock relief at Behistun According to its Greek inscription, the rock relief representing Heracles at Behistun was carved in 148 BCE , being dedicated to a local Seleucid governor. After the collapse of the first Persian Empire following the Macedonian invasion, following the death of Alexander the Great, the Greek dynasty of the Seleucids (from Seleukos, former general of Alexander) were the main rulers of the western part of the Iranian plate. The Seleucids were dominating the cities and the main commercial roads, but failed to impose their power in the rural lands. However, their artistic influence began to penetrate the Iranian plate and will remain for centuries, through the Parthian then the sasanian dynasties. The presence of a statue showing Heracles there testify of such artistic influence, as for the often seen Greek inscriptions or representations of Nike in the later carved rock relieves all over the country. A religious syncretism occurred in Iran soon after the beginning of the Seleucid dynasty, seen Heracles assimilated with the old Iranian divinity of power Verethragna. In this relief, Heracles is shown in a languorous attitude, laying naked on the skin of a lion (probably the Nemean lion he killed in his 12 labours) , holding a bowl, under the shadow of an Olive tree. His traditional wood bludgeon and elbow lay near him. If the topic is typically Greek, either The fashion and carving technique reveal the relief was carved by some Iranian artist, unfamiliar with the greek iconography. The main reason was probably because it was not a royal relief but one of a local person. Taken in Behistun, Province of Kermanshah, Iran, may 2009

Heracles rock relief at Behistun

According to its Greek inscription, the rock relief representing Heracles at Behistun was carved in 148 BCE , being dedicated to a local Seleucid governor. After the collapse of the first Persian Empire following the Macedonian invasion, following the death of Alexander the Great, the Greek dynasty of the Seleucids (from Seleukos, former general of Alexander) were the main rulers of the western part of the Iranian plate. The Seleucids were dominating the cities and the main commercial roads, but failed to impose their power in the rural lands. However, their artistic influence began to penetrate the Iranian plate and will remain for centuries, through the Parthian then the sasanian dynasties. The presence of a statue showing Heracles there testify of such artistic influence, as for the often seen Greek inscriptions or representations of Nike in the later carved rock relieves all over the country.

A religious syncretism occurred in Iran soon after the beginning of the Seleucid dynasty, seen Heracles assimilated with the old Iranian divinity of power Verethragna. In this relief, Heracles is shown in a languorous attitude, laying naked on the skin of a lion (probably the Nemean lion he killed in his 12 labours) , holding a bowl, under the shadow of an Olive tree. His traditional wood bludgeon and elbow lay near him. If the topic is typically Greek, either The fashion and carving technique reveal the relief was carved by some Iranian artist, unfamiliar with the greek iconography. The main reason was probably because it was not a royal relief but one of a local person.

Taken in Behistun, Province of Kermanshah, Iran, may 2009

1:35am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZshkRy7AzBNf
(Notes: 8)
  
Filed under: hercules antiquity iran greek -148 behistun 
Liked posts on Tumblr: More liked posts »