Academics Lesson VI—Classical Art

Question 1

What mythological symbol is depicted in this image?

Answer 1

Lyre made by Hermes (British Museum in London)

Fun Fact: When he was just one day old, the god Hermes (son of Zeus and Maia) ventured from his cave on Mt. Cyllene, killed a tortoise, and strung its shell with sheep gut to create the first lyre. The young god then wandered from his cave in Arcadia into the land of Pieria where he encountered a herd of cattle. The cattle belonged to Hermes’ half-brother, the god Apollo (son of Zeus and Leto). Hermes stole fifty of the cattle and drove them backwards to the river Alpheius; the young god then returned to his own cave on Mt. Cyllene. The next day, Apollo confronted his infant brother, who denied everything. Zeus finally intervened and decided that the cattle should be returned. As he was about to return the cattle, Hermes started to play on his lyre. Apollo became enchanted at the sound. Hermes proposed a deal: he would trade the lyre for Apollo’s cattle. Apollo agreed and became the god who possesses the lyre. In this role, Apollo was the god of music and the attendant of the Muses, the nine goddesses of song and inspiration. The lyre was the great instrument of musical culture in ancient Greece. The picture on the right is a replica of a lyre from the British Museum in London.

Question 2

What Roman structure is depicted in this image?

Answer 2

Temple of Jupiter at Ostia

Question 3

What Roman structure is depicted in this image?

Answer 3

Colosseum

Fun Fact: The Colosseum, the first great arena in world history, is arguably the most splendid of Rome’s architectural achievements. Begun by the emperor Vespasian and dedicated by his son Titus in 80 A.D., the Colosseum held over 50,000 spectators. Gladiators and beasts fought on its arena floor in lavish public games for the amusement of the ancient Romans. This thirst for popular entertainment is immortalized in the Roman poet Juvenal’s quote “pānem et circensēs” (bread and circuses). The Colosseum gained its current name from a nearby statue of the emperor Nero (the Colossus Nerōnis). The ancient Romans called it the Amphitheātrum Flāvium, or Flavian Amphitheater, after the emperors who built it. Much of the southern portion of the edifice was destroyed by an earthquake during the Middle Ages.

Question 4

Identify the Roman depicted in this image.

Answer 4

Lucius Junius Brutus

Fun Fact: Tarquinius Superbus ruled as a tyrant. In fact, the name Superbus means “proud” or “arrogant.” The Romans grew increasingly tired of his rule, but the final straw came when the king’s son, Sextus Tarquinius, raped a virtuous noble woman named Lucretia. When her husband Collatinus discovered this act, he summoned the leading aristocrats to his home. Lucretia, ashamed at what had occurred, plunged a knife into her heart. Lucius Iunius Brutus pulled the knife from Lucretia’s body and had the men present swear an oath never to allow a king (rēx) to rule in Rome again. Brutus, elected as the first consul of the new Republic, helped to drive Tarquinius Superbus from the city in 510 B.C. The Monarchy had ended after a 243 year period.