Invention of the Barbarian visual sources

Question 1

Triptolemos painter Kylix

Answer 1

A Greek, dressed for battle (hoplite helmet and sword) with a shield depicting Pegasus fighting a Persian in heavily patterned clothes (has a sword, bow and quiver)

The Greek is winning the fight

Made c. 460BCE by the Triptolemos painter

Outside: depicts a battle with the Greeks and Persians ( one person is depicted naked; may be a reference to a specific person - can’t tell, cup broken over face)

Question 2

Euphronius Krater(depiction of Amazons)

Answer 2

Original location: Eturia, Italy now in Arezzo, Italy. Made in the late 6th century BCE
Depicts Heracles’ labour to get the war belt of Hippolyta
Heracles = in heroic nude with a club, bow and arrows
Telamon = looks like atypical Greek warrior
Amazons:
Two are in typical barbarian dress - one with an eared hat, one with a Corinthian helmet. Amazons at the front have Greek style chest plates and grieves (Distinct lack of sexualisation)
On the side two individuals run into battle - indistinguishable as to whether Amazon or Greek
At the top of the bell krater is a party

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Question 3

Penthesilea Painter Kylix

Answer 3

A large symbolic kylix, made in the attic style from C. 470-450 BCE, Currently in the Staaliche Antikensmnlugon Museum - Munich
Depicts the death of Penthesilea
Achilles = in the heroic nude with a hoplite shield and sword he is driving into Penthesilea while standing above her
Penthesilea = in a short, plain, peplos with a belt but no weapon. She is supplicating, reaching for Achilles’ face
Other characters
Other man = wearing a breast plate and cloak with a sword and a spear
Amazon = wearing a short peplos and patterned long sleeves, she is facing outwards breaking the boundary between audience and art, likely due to her own transition between the boundaries between life and death

Question 4

Cyrus Cylinder

Answer 4

A small cuneiform (a syllabic script) clay cylinder found in the foundations of the walls of Babylon - buried approx. 539BCE

Text is written in Babylonian

Talks of how Cyrus restored peace as the divinely chosen restorer(God in question is Mudik - the Babylonian god) declaring him king of kings

Cyrus claims his rule brings stability

Question 5

Cyrus’ tomb

Answer 5

“I am Cyrus, and I won for the Persians their empire. Do not begrudge me this little earth which covers my body”
Built in Pasargadae approx. 550-525BCE it is 12x13M
On a rectangular ziggurat with a globed roof and stepped platform with 7 layers of stone, the door way is very small
Ancient accounts suggest it was decorated with gold and held treasures inside

Question 6

Darius statue

Answer 6

Only free standing statue from Persia

Sculpted in Egypt approx. 486BCE

Moved to Susa, likely by Xerxes after his defeat of the Egyptian revolt

At the bottom is the dual God Hapi - the god of upper and lower Egypt; shown in both forms symbolizing the unification of Egypt

On the long sides, it has the peoples in the empire => 24 different cartages

Heavily influenced by Egyptian art and style - main differences is the clothes as Darius is fully covered

On the pleats of the robe, there is the cuneiform in 3 languages (Old Persian, Elimite and Babylonian)

Question 7

Bistun Inscription

Answer 7

In the middle of the road structures and a central location in the empire (and 100M high)
Made c. 520BCE
Depicts Darius’ “historical” account of how he came to the throne - most likely propaganda and false (overthrowing of the usurper Guatemala who was likely Bardiya)
Darius is the tallest figure (1.72m) and is standing on Guatemala with the false kings in chains in front of him (including Skunka the Scythian king who was added later) in the order they were conquered.
323 lines around the frieze in Elimite, old Persian and Babylonian

Question 8

Persepolis

Answer 8

A complex of palaces, reception halls, and treasury buildings erected by the Persian kings Darius I and Xerxes in the Persian homeland

Iran - building work was started by Darius and mostly finished by Xerxes (and Artaxerxes)

Built between 510-465 BCE

Looted by Alexander the great in 330 BCE

a lot of different styles present which shows the variation in nationalities

Where the shahan shana ran the empire

Question 9

Apadana

Answer 9

Apadana = audience hall, function is to demonstrate their power

In Persepolis, built by Xerxes

Built between C.470 BCE of Limestone, mudbrick with a cedar wood roof (likely decorated)

20M tall, 1000M squared, with 72 columns

Two staircases (north and east) which depict 22 nations all in national dress in low relief showing different scenes of delegations - almost a continuous scene; separated by stylised trees

All delegations lead by either a Mede or Persian (possibly indicative of a satrap) and in national dress e.g. Ionians (Yauana - Persian’s word for them) all have beards and no hats, also are wearing clothes that are not Greek

All delegations bring unique tributes e.g. the Ionian’s bowls, fabric and (possibly) wool

There is a depiction of peoples wearing hats and patterned trousers indicating the Greek ideals of a barbarian were not unfounded

Question 10

Gate of All Nations

Answer 10

A part of the Palace of Persepolis; Xerxes’ name was written in three languages and carved on these entrances

constructed 480-465

16.5m tall

entrance is protected by the mythological creature Iamassu (winged bull with the head of a human)