The Artistic Devotions to the Gods and God-like Mortals in Ancient Greek and

Roman Sculpture

(A DIVINE DEVOTION)

Μια Θεία Αφοσίωση

A guided tour by Sarah WadeART1020-History of Art in Early Civilization

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Ariadne’s ThreadWhen we think of Ancient Greek and Roman Goddesses, the most common names that come to mind are Hera, Athena, Aphrodite, etc. The most commonly recognized goddesses of Greek and Roman mythology are but a few of the many Goddesses they showed reverence and devotion to through their art, and some of them were mortal women loved by gods and men alike.

Ariadne was a mortal woman, The daughter of the king of Crete, Minos. Her legend is repeated in modern day books like the ‘Percy Jackson’ series in that her legendary golden thread led the heroes through Daedalus' labyrinth. Her thread earned legend status when Theseus slayed the minotaur and escaped by following her thread. They escaped to the isle of Naxos, where Ariadne wandered off and charmed by Dionysus into forgetting Theseus, running away with the god and becoming his mortal wife. (Ariadne)Our first tour piece is the Female Bust: Ariadne, a clay and terracotta figure of the legendary woman. It was an overlooked piece, laying dormant for many years in a private collection until it was bought by the Louvre, and was deemed a masterpiece of Etruscan Terra-cotta.(“Female Bust: Ariadne – Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities | Louvre Museum.“)

The soft curves, and folds of the fabric, the lines and apparent movement of the hair and the extreme attention to the detail of her facial features are no doubt only a few of the deciding factors in naming this piece a true masterpiece.

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Ariadne bust Location

La Victoire de Samothrace

Female Bust: Ariadne

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FEMALE BUST:ARIADNE

Circa 3rd centuryEtruscan StyleDiscovered in : Falerii Novi, ItalyMaterial: Hand-modeled clay, paint, terra-cottaSize: H.61 cmLocation: Campana Collection, purchased 1861On Display: The Louver, Paris, France.Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities

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Mysterious DevotionThe next piece in our tour is the head of a mystery goddess. It is assumed that this could be the head of Hera, or Demeter because of the presence of the veiled hair. The curves and lines of what remains of this piece indicate movement leaving open a possibility that she was a dancing figure. (Head of a Veiled Goddess)This piece lacks the detail in the hair of the bust of Ariadne, but there is no escaping the remarkable beauty of the facial detail. The grainy texture of the sculpture and mottled coloration give it an aesthetically aged appeal. The raised eyelids and pursed lips are typical of most of the Etruscan and Classical Greek sculpture.

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VEILED GODDESS

Circa 425 B.C.E.Greek, Attic, ClassicalMaterial: Marble Size: H. 6 7/8 in. (17.5 cm)Discovered by George L. Hern Jr.Gift to the Met Museum by Mr. and Mrs. William Henry Told Jr. at the Met Museums reinstallation of the Greek and Roman galleries in 2007.

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A Naval Victory• The next piece in our tour is the Winged Victory of Samothrace. Considered one of the masterpieces of Hellenistic Art, This Sculpture stood guard over the temples on Samothrace. The Goddess Nike was said to be a Goddess of Victory, fertility and protection. This statue stood guard at one of the temples of fertility on the island. It was also thought that this sculpture could have been not only in devotion to the Gods, but also as a commemoration of a victory at sea. (Winged Victory of Samothrace).• This piece is an incredibally powerful message, even with it’s missing limbs. The stance at the prow of the ship, the folds of the fabric, and the intense attention to detail in the wings of this piece really bring a sense of victory and pride to the viewer.

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Map of Ancient Greece

La Victoire de Samothrace

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LA VICTOIRE DE SAMOTHRACE

(Winged Victory of Samothrace)

Circa 190 BCHellenistic styleDiscovered: Samothrace, GreeceGray Lartos Marble Base and Parian marble Statue.Size: H. 3.28 mFound by: Charles Champoiseau campaigns, 1863 and 1879On Display at: The Louvre, Paris, France.Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities

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A Legendary Demigod• The most famous legend of any Greek or Roman mythology is that of Hercules. He is represented in modern day movies and comic books, his legends have even spawned their own Television show; “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys”. The ancient Greek and Roman people had a love for Hercules, Heracles to the Roman. He was given 12 feats to prove himself to the gods, as he was a demigod, son of Zeus and a mortal woman Alcmene. (Theoi.com)• This sculpture of Hercules shows him resting after a battle. The tilted pelvis and emphasis of the weight on one leg are indicative of the Greek departure from the symmetrical Egyptian style of art. This piece is cast in bronze, which has served to preserve many of the finer details.

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HERACLES RESTING

Circa 3rd century BCEAlso speculation that it could be a Roman copy from 1st century CE)Material: BronzeSize: H. 42.5 cm (35 cm without the base)Tyszkiewicz collection. Purchased and given to the Louvre, Paris, France 1870.Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities

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WORKS CITED• "Ariadne." Women in Greek Myths. Web. 01 Mar. 2011.

<http://www.paleothea.com/Myths/Ariadne.html>.

• Female Bust: Ariadne – Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities | Louvre Museum." Site Officiel Du Musée Du Louvre. Web. 02 Mar. 2011. <http://www.louvre.fr/llv/oeuvres/detail_notice.jsp?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673226439&CURRENT_LLV_NOTICE%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673226439&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=9852723696500818&baseIndex=4&bmLocale=en>.

• http://www.louvre.fr/llv/oeuvres/detail_notice.jsp?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673225416&CURRENT_LLV_NOTICE%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673225416&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=9852723696500817&baseIndex=10&bmLocale=en#

• "Head of a Veiled Goddess [Greek, Attic] (2007.328) | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art." The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York: Metmuseum.org. Web. 01 Mar. 2011. <http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/2007.328>.

• "Map of Ancient Greece." Greek Islands, Greece Travel Guide, Greece Hotels by Greeka.com. Web. 01 Mar. 2011. <http://www.greeka.com/greece-maps/ancient-greece-map.htm>.

• "Winged Victory of Samothrace – Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities | Louvre Museum." Site Officiel Du Musée Du Louvre. Web. 02 Mar. 2011. <http://www.louvre.fr/llv/oeuvres/detail_notice.jsp?CONTENTcnt_id=10134198673225805&CURRENT_LLV_NOTICEcnt_id=10134198673225805&FOLDERfolder_id=9852723696500817&bmLocale=en>.

• "Theoi.com | Heracles the Great Hero of Greek Mythology." THEOI GREEK MYTHOLOGY, Exploring Mythology & the Greek Gods in Classical Literature & Art. Web. 02 Mar. 2011. <http://www.theoi.com/greek-mythology/heracles.html>.

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