Art And drama Flashcards
Odeon of Pericles
Said to be an exact representation of the king of Persia’s pavilion
Plutarch 13
Pausanias 1.22
There is but one entry to the Acropolis [the Propylaea] + it was “unrivalled for the beauty and size of its stones”
Aristophanes knights
The leadership of the people is no longer a job for an educated man or one of good qualities but for the one who’s ignorant and foul
Thucydides 10
One would conjecture from what met the eye that the city had been twice as powerful as it is
Aristophanes most significant plays and dates
426: babylonians (unsuccessful prosecution from Cleon for “embarrassing Athens in front of her allies”)
424: knights (Cleon portrayed as the Paphlagonian)
423: clouds (ridicules Socrates)
422: Wasps (ridicules jury service)
411: Lysistrata (women sex striking) + Thesmophoriazusae (women planning to obliterate Euripides)
Hippolytus’ rejection…
Of Aphrodite […] is a subverting of his passage to manhood”
Simon Goldhill
“Well, they’re the only deities we have/
The rest are just so much hocus pocus”
Aristophanes Clouds
The women have been…
Plotting against me. And today, at the Thesmophoria, they’re going to debate my downfall.
Aristophanes Thesmaphirazusae
The play is perhaps fanciful escapism from the darker events of 411 (war with Sparta drawing to a close; a series of bad events had befallen Athens - military defeats)
Do not let it be charged…
To the public account but to my own, and I will dedicate all the public buildings in my name
Plutarch 14
Despite his unselfishness,
There can be no doubt as to his power
Plutarch 16
For thinking in their pride…
That nothing stood in the way of their taking Athens, they were bringing a piece of Parian marble to make a trophy
Pausanias 1.33
Metopes represent:
The story of the development of order out of chaos, and civilisation out of barbarism
Percy Gardner
Only the Athenians are “able to…
Take possession of the wealth of the Greeks and of foreigners”
O.O 2.11
Refers to the monopolisation of trade in the Aegean
Link to Poseidon temple at Sounion
His object being that…
Those who stayed at home […] Should be able to enjoy a share of the national wealth
Plutarch 12
The city’s prosperity…
Was extended far and wide and shared among every age and condition in Athens
Plutarch 12
The reserve funds drawn up for the projects was:
“At its maximum […] 9700 talents”
Thucydides 1.23
The statue of Athena was:
“Made of Ivory and gold”
Pausanias 1.24.5
Dates of important Athenian buildings
Athena Promachos: 450s Parthenon: 447-432 Temple of Poseidon at Sounion: 444-440 Propylaea: 437-432 Odeon: 435 Erechtheion: 425-404 Temple of Athena Nike: c.420
Temple of Nemesis at Rhamnous
Context of the Parthenon
Build 447
- still in peacetime with Sparta (5 year truce made 451) so It’s toric architecture is perhaps a note to a more peaceful relationship
– however, Athen’s empire was starting to rebel (Euboea Megara etc) - by 446 Sparta had invaded Attica, but Athens then made a 30 peace with them
-suggests the Parthenon was meant to display Athenian wealth and remind the Péloponnèse of their role in the Persian wars, but not meant to antagonise them
Lysistrata quote
Spartan: well, we want peace - provided we get back / this round, enclosed part.
Lysistrata: which?
Spartan: the read - Pylos. / we’ve long requested it, and tried to probe.
A person so treated in comedy…
Does not, for the most part, come from the populace and mass of people but as a person of Wealth, high birth, or influence
The people feel no vexation at seeing such persons abused in comedy
OO 2.18
Euripides Ion
Ion: because you are childless, you are envious that my father found me.
[…] at the end:
Creusa: i am no longer childless; this house is established
