Doric Friezes Flashcards
What are the main problems with metopes
Limited frame causes problems and compromises narrative
Where is the heroic cattle raid from ? Metope
Sikyonian treasury
Delphi
How successful is the heroic cattle raid metope ?
Consider archaic traits
Narrative - heroes march with cows
Despite archaic traits with patterned emphasis which may detract from realism …
Formulaic, repetitive composition with bold patterns and repeated lines
- parallel line with raiders holding spears in left hand
- horizontal line with raiders holding spears in right hand
- frontally emphasised cows
-walking in unison
Depth perception conveyed with spears behind men
And fills space
And conveys narrative
You could also like the patterned aesthetic
Where is the Herakles and the kerkopes metope from ?
Temple C at Sicily
How successful is the Herakles and the kerkopes metope ?
Consider archaic traits
Despite archaic traits…
- Herakles 3/4 turn struggle
- kerkopes looking identical -perhaps unrealistic with their archaic hair and smiles and arm positions in the same place
- all figures frontally emphasised
Also
Their is space at the bottom
However
Depth perception shown with Herakles sword
This is arguably necessary to show Herakles lifting them which is in line with the myth
Archaic traits also go with myth - the kerkopes smile at herakles’ bottom etc …
most of space is filled and narrative is clearly conveyed
What is the myth associated with Herakles and the kerkopes ?
Imps caught stealing from Herakles
Herakles bring imps to town carrying them- they laugh at his bottom as their mother warned them “beware of the black bottomed one”, Herakles then lets them go
What’s the different between Doric and iconic friezes ?
Doric - triflifs and metopes
Ionic - continuous pattern or narrative
What do the temple of Zeus at olympia’s Doric internal metopes depict?
12 labours of Herakles
Which 4 metopes on the temple of Zeus at olympia do we need to know ?
Nemean lion
Cretan bull
Golden apples of Hesperides
Stables of Augeus
Describe the success of the composition -nemean lion metope on the temple of Zeus at Olympia
Composition - Herakles (young) looking tired/ sad over a bull while Athene and Hermes look on
- space filled
- depth perception with Herakles foot
Good points
- gods superiority conveyed with their upright posture
- lion lolling tongue - emphasising the defeat
- Herakles is beardless and sad in coherence with this being the first labour !
Describe the success of the composition -CRETAN BULL METOPE on the temple of Zeus at Olympia
- space
Not only filled but confines are used to convey further depth in narrative.
Figures jump against eachother pushing against metope confines emphasising the struggle of the man vs beast battle - during dynamic jump bull and Herakles do not break eye contact
- bulls head twist emphasis it’s monstrous bulk as if it wasn’t twisted it wouldn’t fit in metope - emphasises man vs beast struggle
HIGH AND LOW RELIEF
Herakles in front
VERY SUCCESSFUL MAN VS BEAST PORTRAYAL
Depth perception !
Describe the success of the composition -GOLDEN APPLES OF HESPERIDES metope on the temple of Zeus at Olympia
Composition -
Athene ready to catch the universe if Herakles drops it , Herakles holds universe, atlas brings the apples
Space not only filled
But confine used in narrative - Herakles holds up the metope - representative of him holding up the universe
Strong points
- differentiation between Athene and herakles shown in size and strength as Athene reaches to potentially help him with one hand whilst Herakles has a cushion
Potential weakeness
- static composition
How does the metope of the apples of Hesperides depict Herakles ?
Link to location of the temple ?
Herakles - older with a beard
- in the process of manipulating atlas and demonstrating his physical strength
This depicts Herakles as the ideal athlete - mentally and physically
This coincides with the metope’s location at Olympia
Describe the success of the composition -AUGEAN STABLES metope on the temple of Zeus at Olympia
Composition - Two figures
Herakles and Athene
Points
- differentiation between Athene and Herakles shown by exertion on task
Limitations
- diagonal lines with Athene’ spear and herakles’ shovel are a bit archaic looking
- Herakles is leaning in his exertion, when standing up he may be same size as Athene
What does the Parthenon’s exterior Doric frieze that we look at depict ?
Centauromachy !
How many metopes are on the Parthenon’s exterior Doric frieze ?
92
Which side of the Parthenon’s exterior doric frieze do we look at ?
South
Which metopes do we look at on the Parthenon’s Doric exterior Frieze
1 , 26, 27, 28
What is the composition of METOPE ONE on the EXTERIOR DORIC frieze on the south side of the Parthenon?
How successful is this in portraying civilisation vs barbarity ?
Laptih going to stab centaur
Centaur has Lapith in a headlock and is going to his him with a rock.
Successful
- not clear who is winning emphasises the struggle of man to overcome barbarity
- weaponary differentiation emphasises the barbarity of the centaur
- high and low relief with grotesque intertwined limbs of centaur and Lapith
Weakness
- gap in the right of the composition
However gap could convey centaur pushing Lapith into the corner
What is the composition of METOPE 26 on the EXTERIOR DORIC frieze on the south side of the Parthenon?
How successful is this in portraying civilisation vs barbarity ?
Lapith in shit cape kicks centaur with no neck
Strengths -
Lapith unruly beard emphasises barbarity
Limits -
- gaps in right and bottom of composition
- centaur problematic proportions looks like baby horse lol
- drapery very low relief but not utilised to convey movement and add dynamism. Just there to fill space seemingly
- movement of figures does not convey fluidity of battle
What is the composition of METOPE 27 on the EXTERIOR DORIC frieze on the south side of the Parthenon?
How successful is this in portraying civilisation vs barbarity ?
Composition - Lapith with sick drapery grabs Centaur about to give fatal blow. Lapith and centaur lean out to different sides
Strengths
- frame used to emphasise dynamic movement with figures leaping out against confines of frame - coherent with narrative
- drapery is detailed with fluid catenaries, drapery conveys movement matador-Esque
- centaur realistic turn with vein to convey exertion
- dangerous high relief of Lapith with leg coming out !
What is the composition of METOPE28 on the EXTERIOR DORIC frieze on the south side of the Parthenon?
How successful is this in portraying civilisation vs barbarity ?
Composition - Lapith on ground dead while centaur with realisation pelt waves arms above him in triumph
- the narrative conveys civilisation and barbarity well as it further emphasises the struggle of civilisation to defeat barbarity.
Strengths - -Centaur pelt modelling - centaur pelt conveys barbaric nature -Lapith nudity conveys vulnerability rather than heroism - centaur's tail flicks upwards conveying dynamic movement
List the friezes studied in order including individual metopes of the same temple
Heroic cattle raid at sikonyion treasury Herakles and the kerkopes at temple c at Sicily Herakles' labours including Nemean boar Cretan bull Golden apples of Hesperides Augean stables At temple of Zeus at Olympia Parthenon's exterior Doric frieze Including metopes 1 26 27 28
