...An Amphora From The Past A very well preserved Amphora with the Birth of Athena and a four Horse Chariot, Greek, 560-540BC, Group E, Attic, Terracota black figure painting, is available for view at the Yale University Art Gallery. The amphora stands in a glass case that allows the viewer to observe each detail of the amphora at a very close proximity. At simple glance you can see an oval shape Greek pottery vase with handles at each side. The amphora is made of clay with internal details seemed to be accentuated into the bodies to make certain parts stand out. The amphora is done with figures in silhouette all in black with hints of red and white. At first glance in the front of the amphora you see five figures done very delicate and grateful patterns in profile. In the center of the vase there is a figure that stands out from the rest of the figures on the frontal view of the vase. As you go around the vase four horses seem to be pulling a chariot that gives the impression of coming towards the viewer. The chariot is being commanded by a person dressed in white also in a frontal view. Also there is the presence of some geometric designs at the top and bottom of the amphora. Underneath the throne there is another small figure with a robe elegantly wrapped around the robe. At a closer view we see leaping from the top of the head of the central figure a very small person fully dressed in black and red ready to jump into action. In the center of the vase seating...
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...Athena, the goddess of wisdom, law and justice, strength, and also known as goddess of war. Athena was one of the three Goddesses who remained a virgin goddess, Athena never marry to anyone, and romance is never mention in Athena’s mythology. The story of how she was born was actually amazing. At the time Zeus, the chief of gods was having affair with a woman Metis. However there was a prophecy that Zeus and Metis’s first child will be a girl and the second child will be a boy and the boy will surpass Zeus and overthrow him. Zeus take the warning seriously so when he saw Metis, he immediately swallowed her and her unborn child in order to prevent the birth of a child. However, Metis was already pregnant before Zeus swallowed her, and while...
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...parts of The Odyssey, the goddess, Athena, disguises herself to look mortal, in order to insinuate courage into the characters so they can go on their journey. To inspire Odysseus’ son, Telemachus, to find his father and get rid of his mother’s suitors, Athena disguises herself as a close family friend and gives him the advice he needs. In book one, Athena says to Telemachus, “…reach down deep in your heart and soul/for a way to kill those suitors in your house,/by stealth or in open combat./You must not cling to your boyhood any longer-/it’s time you were a man…” (Homer 1.338-342). Athena disguises herself, instead of presenting her true form, so that Telemachus understands her words, learns, and develops like he needs to. If Athena...
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...Daughter of Zeus, Athena was born fully grown from her father's forehead. This Greek goddess has no mother, but there are tales that say Zeus may have been with Metis around the time Athena arrived. Athena is the goddess of wisdom and warfare. She is known for her strategic skill in warfare and is known as “companion of heroes” and is the patron goddess of heroic strive (“Athena”). The Athenians considered her their “protector” and in honor of this, they named their city after her; Athens (“Myths”). She is commonly symbolized with an olive tree. Her sacred animals are the snake and owl. Athena is usually described as a rosy cheeked girl with a muscular body (“Athena”). She was one of the three Greek goddesses that remained a virgin (Littleton 171). Athena is one of the only goddesses that shows heroic skill and wisdom and she is one of the most important Greek and Roman goddesses known during this ancient time period....
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.... Comparing Gods and Goddesses HUM/105 June 15, 2011 Comparing Gods and Goddesses Myths are narrative stories that describe the creation of the world and how the first humans came into existence. According to Leonard and McClure (2004), human societies began as goddess-oriented and matrifocal (women-centered). Human societies evolved from primitive beginnings to a superior culture system of patriarchy (Leonard & McClure, 2004, p. 104). Although myths may differ from culture to culture, common elements and roles exist in each myth. In today’s society, myths and legends are fantasy-filled tales from ancient societies long gone. Therefore, Team A will describe the elements and functions of goddess myths, and compare two myths of the female divine from different cultures. Second, the team will describe the elements and functions of god myths, and compare two myths of the male divine from different cultures. Last, the team will summarize the elements and functions shared by both divines. According to the euhemerist Gimbutus, goddesses have three basic roles life, death, and regeneration (Leonard & McClure, 2004, p. 114). The goddesses of life are Mother Earth, nature, sea, and universe. These goddesses are nurturers and overseers of security and contentment, prosperity and growth, and creativity and artistry. The mother earth goddesses are creators of earth and universe, such as Gaia of the ancient Greeks, and Tellus of the Romans. These two Earth goddesses gave...
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...men must talk him into going on with the journey a full year later. Even then, Circe helps the Odysseus and his men with supplies and advice. Calypso holds Odysseus captive for seven years in hopes of marrying him. When he resists and is saved by Hermes under orders from Zeus, Calypso offers him immortality if he will stay. When he declines her offer, Calypso leads Odysseus to believe that letting him go is her idea, "I am all compassion," she says. Athena is a powerful goddess and is often appears in disguise and her intervention is essential to help Odysseus with his journey home. She is similar to Circe as they are both powerful independent goddesses and both help Odysseus get home. Athena intervenes just enough to encourage Odysseus but then she recedes into the background and allows him to make his own way. However, Athena lives on Mount Olympus as she is an important goddess and cannot be overpowered whereas Circe lives alone and has to be manipulating and use her magic just to have company. Calypso, Circe and Athena are all important female characters and are similar because they are all goddesses. Both Circe and Calypso live alone on an island in addition to both sleeping with Odysseus. However, Circe is manipulating and malicious in a way that Calypso is not as Calypso is genuinely affectionate of Odysseus....
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...contained a number of technical innovation in the way that images were organized on the relief panel, which exerted a strong influence on later Hellenistic-Roman art. For example, the figures were created in depth, background landscapes were more detailed and scenic, and architectural elements were used to show indoor activities. Unfortunately, only about 47 panels survived out of the original 74 panels. The Altar of Zeus includes many friezes and other Greek works of art is recognized as having served as models. For example, Apollo with his idealized stance from the east frieze recalls a classical statue called The Belvedere Apollo (Fig.21) by the sculptor Leochares. Also, Zeus and Athena moving in opposite directions from the east frieze (Fig.7) recall the scene showing the struggle between Athena and Poseidon on the western pediment of the Parthenon (Fig.22). Moreover, the frieze on its part influenced later works of classical antiquity. Laocoön, which was created about twenty years after the Pergamon frieze, is the most famous example. The expression of pain of Laocoön and his sons is very similar to the contorted expression of Alkyoneus (Fig.7). Also, sculpted bodies and movement of Lacoon and his sons recall the bodies of goddesses from Pergamon altar. I chose this artwork because Pergamon altar is very different from other...
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...The Odyssey is a Homeric Poem written by Homer, a blind poet, that is one of the greatest poems ever written. The Odyssey is filled with heros, monsters, creatures, and gods. This poem is about a journey taken by Odysseus. On his way home he faces many obstacles making his journey home much more complicated. While he is facing obstacles he is faced by 4 gods Athena, Zeus, Helios, and Poseidon. These gods help him throughout his journey home. Athena, the most powerful god, helps Odysseus make his journey home by providing him with guidance and beauty. Athena is the goddess of wisdom, warfare, crafts, and is one of the most powerful of the 12 olympian gods. Athena created the potter's wheel, vase, horse bridle, the chariot and the ship....
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...In the case of the man called Tiresias, Tiresias accidentally fell upon a lake where he saw a woman bathing. In most cases he would’ve been thanking the gods and goddesses for his bountiful luck, however in this case he found extremely bad luck, because the woman he found bathing was the Goddess Athena! Most goddesses would have instinctively cast death upon the individual, for such an offense the punishment was death. However Athena was compassionate and spared him from death. Rather she blinded him and simultaneously gave him the power of prophecy. Tiresias, because of Athena’s help, became one of the most renowned prophets in all of Greece. Being as she was calm cool and collected Athena almost never got furious, and was renowned for her...
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...Homer wrote about the Odyssey around 850BC and I think it reflected the society of that time greatly. I think the biggest idea of The Odyssey was the suffering. Since in Book 19 page 403, it revealed that “let his name be Odysseus… the Son of Pain, a name he’ll earn in full.” We could tell that throughout the whole book, the ultimate purpose of Odysseus’s adventure and suffering was to return home. He endured so much pain which lived up to his name and matured through all that he overcame. So that through suffering, he became the hero the ancient Greek admired and advocated, but he still remained a flawed being. The principle thing Odysseus learned was that God can control fate and he was destined to go home. In book 12, Odysseus’s crewman ate the cattle which disobeyed his orders of not eating the cattle while he went off to pray. They later died of eating the Sungod’s finest cattle since the crewmen at the same time disobeyed god. (Page 281-282) And what was interesting was that God put Odysseus to sleep while the crewmen ate the cattle. So God gave the people free will to decide what to do, but at the same time let it happen while Odysseus could have saved them. So I may say that the God made the crewmen die. The end of the book was the most amazing part to me. When Odysseus and the avengers for suitors were fighting, they only stopped fighting because the Gods would be angry. They were not actually in peace but pretended to be in order not to enrage Gods. I think...
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...John Hennes History 311 March 19, 2014 Oppression or Economic/Demographic Necessity? Ancient Greco-Roman societies are discussed to this day for their amazing accomplishments in the areas of philosophy, architecture and politics. Their imprint on history is something that will likely never be reproduced. Both of these societies are recognized as patriarchal in nature, which means that there were limited opportunities for women in comparison to the western societies of today which will be discussed in Return of the Patriarchy by Phillip Longman. The best way to determine the reasons for the limitations placed on Greek and Roman women is to refer to ancient writings which capture the realities of their lives and times. It can be surmised from these writings that the limitations placed on women was not the result of lack of respect or capability but driven by necessity. The necessity of a patriarchal society in Greece and Rome was the primary factor in the limitations set on women. Phillip Longman talks about patriarchy in his article Return of Patriarchy describing it as, “a value system that not only requires men to marry but to marry women of proper station…a cultural regime that serves to keep birthrates high among the affluent, while also maximizing parents’ investment in their children…no advanced civilization has yet learned how to endure without it” meaning that the only way that Greece and Rome could have existed for as long as it did was with this system of patriarchy...
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...The Olympians are major deities of the Greek pantheon; however, the deities: Poseidon, Hestia, Athena and Hephaestus appear to be salient towards humanity. All of these gods play a large role in shaping the lives of men as what they govern directly affects humanity. Poseidon for his control over the sea/floods/droughts, Hestia for hearth and home, Athena for wisdom, courage, peace and battle strategy, and lastly Hephaestus for inventions and craft. Poseidon, Shaker of the Earth and God of the Sea. For without him there would be drought. Men rely on Poseidon to aid the sailors as they set sail across the endless seas (H.22, 7). It is said that when Poseidon is in a good mood, he would create new lands in the water and calm the sea of any obstacles. However, if he is displeased or offended, then he would cause earthquakes and shipwrecks, thus giving him the name, Shaker of the Earth. Hestia’s importance stems from her role as the goddess of the hearth and home, for without Hestia there is no sense of banquet (H.29, 5). As the goddess of the hearth, she is commonly worshipped anywhere and by everyone, regardless of the temple’s dedication to any deities. She is personified by a fire burning in the hearth of all households and towns and is not to be put out. This is meant to bring the together the families or the community if put into a town setting. Although Athena is the goddess of warfare, she is foreseen as a defender of cities and savior of men...
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...unpredictability in his actions throughout his life. Adulterous behavior was common for Poseidon. One such love affair involved his sister Demeter. He thought she was absolutely stunning and desired her deeply. To avoid his constant sexual prodding, Demeter turned herself into a mare, an act that only fueled Poseidon’s desire. He transformed himself into a stallion and had his way with her. This affair created a horse named Arion. Another well-known affair of Poseidon’s was with Medusa. The two were sexually attracted to one another. Medusa was a true beauty when Poseidon first fell for her. They made love in Athena’s temple. Athena was so offended by this behavior she turned Medusa into a gorgon, a terrifying female creature, which she is known for in Greek mythology. One of Medusa’s most famous traits was her head of snakes that she possessed as hair. Athena and Peruses plotted to kill Medusa by beheading her. Upon cutting her head off, two offspring appeared. One of these children was the well-known flying horse Pegasus (Rymer). Mythology states that Poseidon did marry for love although once again, this union showed manipulation by Poseidon. Amphitrite was a water nymph. One day Poseidon spotted her dancing...
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...solved. However, Zeus never knew that Metis was pregnant with Athena. She birthed Athena inside of Zeus and made her a helmet, shield, and spear. Soon, Zeus was afflicted with deadly headaches and he ran to Hephaestus, the Greek god of blacksmiths, sculptors, metallurgy, fire, and volcanoes, and begged him to open his head. Hephaestus did as he was told, and out came Athena, dressed in her armor and prepared to fight a battle. Like all the Olympians, Athena was an immortal goddess and could not die. She was the most intelligent, resourceful, and wise of all the Greek gods. She was also...
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...was created. To examine artwork in relation to the culture of the each society, the artwork must be analyzed in variety of ways. The artwork that will be examined will be the Parthenon from the Classical Greece period, The Scraper from the Hellenistic Period, and the tombs from the Etruscan Civilization. The Parthenon is a great example of the Doric style of architecture from the Classical Greek period, as shown in Figure 1. The Parthenon was built by Perikles, the great Athenian leader. It was built on the highest point and was the largest building on the mainland. (Benton & DiYanni, 2008, pp. 66-121) The Parthenon was made of marble and was built in 447-432 BCE. Parthenon is a temple dedicated to the Goddess Athena. ("The Parthenon") An image of Athena made out of gold and ivory stands in the Parthenon. (Benton & DiYanni, 2008, pp. 66-121) The Greeks believed she helped them defeat the Persian Empire during the Persian Wars. The Parthenon is known to symbolize wealth and power of the Athenians. Tax money of the people was used to pay for the building. Ironically, the building was used as a state treasury, which held tax money that the Dalian League collected. The society was proud of its culture and political achievements. ("The Parthenon") The society also formed the first Democracy. The society saw themselves rising to the same level as the Gods. Perfection was very important to this culture. Their representation through the unparalleled precision, mathematical...
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