Muses on a Sarcophagus

 #muses #sarcophagus 

I have no particular reason for sharing this expect its March which starts with an M and I have bits and piece sof left image files in a folder from prior websurf 

Enjoy 

Theseus and the Bull

 Theseus and the Bull

#theseus #bull #Classicalgreekart #greekceramics

A simple elegant vessel but I do feel sorry for the bull who doesnt seem to know what comes next ... I also note the woman pictured is certainly not wearing a veil or a cape. She may possibly be Medea and the old man Theseus' father? 

The Story of Theseus and the Bull is that Theseus was sent to marathon to slay a Bull which he lead back to Athens to be sacrificed.

The story claims the Bull was the white one the father of the Minotaur which Heracles had captured and sent to Tiryns but it broke loose and somehow ended up at Marathon.

If there is any history behind this I suspect the bull was meant to be sent as a tribute to Crete and it was killed as an act of defiance of Minoan power.

Athena in Contemplation

#Athena #sculpture #classicalgreekart

None of the embroidery often seen on ceramics on this carved image of the goddess just the goddess gazing on a memorial stele probably for a fallen soldier returning the respect and worship given to her.

Here's a closeup showing more detail of the face.

A quiet yet powerful work.

Follow me for more Athena images our theme for October.

 

ATHENA - Tetradrachma

 ATHENA THIS OCTOBER -

Our #OCTOBER #2020 theme is #Athena 

This Athenian coin is thought to be based on the face of Phidias' sculpture of the goddess.

I have actually enlarged the image to show every possible detail. 

An Image of Maia

There are very few images of #Maia in Ancient Classical Greek art however it is thought this is one of them.

Its from a ceramic vessel and is part of a larger painting by the Nikoxenos painter (approx. 500 B.C.) showing a Council of the Gods.

Its thought to be Maia because she is standing next to Hermes.

Harpies as young Girls

#harpies #Birds #goddesses

The Harpies literally the Snatchers are the daughters of Thaumas son of Pontos and Gaia and the Oceanid Electra. Apollonios Rhodios in his Argonautica describes them as monsters

They are said to have lived in a cave on Mt Dicte on the island of Thrace and had the role to sinning those who sinned against the gods.

Other artists had different ideas. The Harpies shown here appear to be young girls though the position and shape  of the wings suggest that maybe young boy dancers in costume for a play are being depicted? Also there are 3 Harpies not two.

Their older sister was Iris goddess of the rainbow and messenger of the gods in the oldest epics.

Yet another Sphinx Sculpture.

#sphinx #sculpture #classicalgreekart

This one is from Cyprus. The "pinks" are faded reds and possibly other weaker pigments may have eroded off.

Tomorrow is greek new testament bible study day but next week I still have a few more Sphinx images to share before we move to a new topic.

Don't forget to check out older posts on this theme and ...

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