Muses in Ivory

 THE MUSES IN IVORY 

This piece is NOT the finest depiction of the Muses but it has a certain liveliness and definite energy.

Does it seem to you that they are dancing?

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 

Griffin Lebes

 GRIFFIN LEBES

This #griffin #lebes or #urn dates from the Hellenistic era probably about 350 BCE.

The griffins seem also plain compared to the florid "Corinthian" ornamentation on the base.

I wonder if perhaps the heads were using for hanging floral memorial wreaths from?

And why Griffins? 

Enjoy!

Yet MORE GRIFFINS

 GRIFFINS ON A SACROPHAGUS

#delphi  #sacrophagus #Griffins

 

These two seem to be protecting a sacred flame. The style suggests the Hellenisitc era.

Near Eastern Griffin

GRIFFIN IN IVORY  

The images of griffins in Mycenaean Greek Persian and other art had prototypes in works like this.

This is a fragment of a larger item but we can see the leonine or feline tail the avian beak and crest and the plumage of the wings. Check my prior post and wait for the next ones to see other Griffins. 

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.

 

The Ladies - Kore - 2

The #Kore or Maiden was a popular sculptural theme in Archaic and Classical sculpture.

They can be disitinguished form other images of young women or godesses by their headress and elaborated pleated over robes and hair styles and also the skirt lifting and one foot before as the sculptors left the columnar styles of carving behind for more naturalistic renderings.

LYSIAS on Patreon

There will be more #Lysias educational excerpts in PDF format available from the #metousia #patreon this week !

Here's what one sculptor thought he looked like.

I will be posting the Amazons passage from Lysias's Funeral Oration on the Patreon that runs parallel to this blog. Watch twitter for updates.

An Late Roman Yet Oddly Greek Cross

For #Easter. A Late #roman yet oddly #greek #cross.

This was found in a roman cemetery and has been dated to approximately 350 AD

While the soldiers are Roman the cross is surmounted by a CHI - RHO symbol showing how strong Hellenic influences still were even in Late Antiquity. And look at the very classical columns on either side! Some scholars think this is a reference to Constantine's vision of a cross. 

Its not one of the great Renaissance masterpieces but has simplicity strength and sincerity.

If you are not celebrating Easter or Passover as a spiritual event don't forget to be charitable and share your chocolates or other Easter foods with others. 

Winged Victory NOT NIKE

Winged Victory from Ephesus.

The famous wingless and headless Nike is not the only surviving Winged Victory sculpture from the Classical Era. The proportions seem a little "off" but this is not being displayed in its original location. It was probably above ground and part of a podium over a doorway and only in direct sunlight for part of the day.

The Evolution of the Greek Sphinx

The Evolution of the #Greek #Sphinx

A Final Chronological Look at Sphinxes in #GreekArt

Starting with an Egyptian Sphinx

Then the sort of #Sphinx  Phonecian traders might have been selling as luxury items

From the #Archaic period 

And Classical 

Finally a Early hellenistic mosaic floor from Etretria

If you have found this set of images useful for your own research or work please consider supporting this blogger via PAYPAL

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 ...

please consider 

Supporting me via Paypal

Thank You 

The Ai Khanum Satyr a further note

Not seen Hidden treasures from Afghanistan yet?

Something blurbs online elsewhere havn't made clear and that is not clear in the photograph. This was actually some kind of spout for rain water probably? The artisan very cleverly and beautifully has made use of the satyr motif to create a useful object that is also a sculpture and an ornament.

I know its also described as the kitchen servant the old man and other descriptions but take a look at this ... at the head.

Hidden treasures closes June 15 See it if you can!

Archibald Fountain

Whether you are a visitor to Sydney or a local pausing to enjoy the coolness take a moment to consider the Classical influences on this fountain in theme and style.
Yes its Art Deco but a very NeoClassical influenced Art Deco with simplified forms inspired by 19th archaeologists discovering earlier forms of Greek art.

And its a beautiful fountain! Enjoy!

Maillol's 3 Graces

One favorite theme in Western art that dates back to Classical Greek culture and  is still used by modern artists is  that of the 3 Graces.

Here's a beautiful example by Aristide Maillol that demonstrated how the art of ancient Greece inspires us today.

Name this ruler?

I'm shamelessly testing you to see if you remember a earlier series of posts in which I showed images of the heirs of Alexander.

This rather austere looking ruler who looks almost Roman was a king with a name starting with A from which derives a famous city.

People tend to think of Hellenistic sculpture as being "Baroque" and emotional and expressionistic and dramatic. No its not all like that.

Centaurs

CENTAURS

One theory about the origin of Centaurs is that the legends are based on the

 (mis) behaviour of mountain tribes living in remote areas.

Another is that they were the last Neanderthals?

However the earliest Archaic art often shows a very human torso.

530 B.C.

Note the carefully combed beard and hair

Vase painting Note how the centaurs have ears and snub noses like Satyrs.

One of the oldest images of a Centaur.

Certainly different from this famous Renaissance painting.

So why so many different ways of depicting these legendary beings?

Part of  the reason is the tendency of later artists to decide to use monsters and non humans as symbols of lust or drunkness and violence in the case of Centaurs.

The main stories we have in the literature however depict Centaurs as living in remote mountainous and forested areas and only misbehaving when exposed to alcohol as in the Tale of the Weddings of the Lapiths. 

The other main story is that of Chiron the Wise and his daughter depicted as healers.

So what's going on?

A  minority group demonized for the sake of a moral lesson?

The earliest Satyrs are often shown with horse tails.

A topic for another blog.