Dionysius and Ariadne

 Dionysius and Ariadne 

#dionysius #ariadne #bronze #relief

Here is an excellent example of the sort of ancient art work that influenced not just Renaissance art but also Baroque with its fluid curves and emotional expression.

The composition is both simple yet complex as the longer one studies it the more and more of the details there are to delight in such as the bending of the knees or the drapes or their stance mirrored in each figure  ! 

A small exquisite masterwork !

Is this Poseidon?

IS THIS POSEIDON OR ... ?

It is generally presumed this ancient Greek Bronze is a statue of Poseidon

WHY ?

We have no idea if he was holding a thunderbolt or trident spear.

He could just as easily be a javelin throwing athlete?

One of the reasons this is thought to Poseidon is that similar images exist but in different media.

This is a coin Note the VERY similar pose.

metousia,

And again here. Given the custom of "dressing" some statues it's possible the bronze is missing a separate piece of bronze detachable drapery or was given a metal cloak of gold once installed in a temple or shrine?

Helios the Sun God

#Helios #sungod #greekmythology

People tend to think of Apollo as the Sun god but he actual Charioteer of the Solar Chariot was Helios son of Hyperion. Apollo seems to have taken over his role or been (con)fused with him in the Hellenistic era as people shared stories and encountered other solar cults and tried to make some sense of whether there was one sun god or several, Apollo, Helios, Shams, Horus, Ra, Mithras and others like Lugh of the Gauls and Sol Invictus.

If you see an image in Greek or Roman art wearing the radiate crown without a bow and with or without a chariot it may well be Helios rather than Apollo.

I have picked images from 4 different media ceramics, relief sculpture, mosaic , and a bronze to show its a consistent motif and theme.

To finish a coin of Emperor Probus who supported solar cults.

Note also the four horse RACING chariot !

Next time since its Summer for some of you Apollo.