Pedinmental sculpture Flashcards
List all of the pediments in order
Temple or Artemis at Corcyra Siphnian Treasury at Delphi Temple of Aphaia at Agenia west Temple of Aphaia at Aegina east Temple of Zeus at Olympia east Temple of Zeus at Olympia west Parthenon west Parthenon east
Which pediment was the first to put a god in the apex ?
What did this do for scale ?
Siphnian treasury
God filling the apex aided the scale of the pediment as it would justify this figure being the tallest to fill the shape. Gods are bigger than mortals
Describe the temple of Artemis at Corcyra’s composition ?
How is this successful and unsuccessful with scale and theme ?
Apex filled with gorgon medusa
Her children - Pegasus and Chrysaor are next to her
( a lot smaller than her , lapse of scale however could be justified as that’s her parent)
(Parental theme link)
Quadrupeds utilised next to this
(Fit into the scale of the pediment with their heads higher than their bodies facing into the triangular shape)
(No clear theme link) (monstrousness ?)
Then gods vs Titans stab
Greeks vs trojans
(Complete loss of scale as gods and titans are the same size)
(Theme ? Monstrousness)
Then corpses in the corner
(Complete loss of scale as calf nearly as big as Trojan/Greek/titan/ god figure)
(Theme - monstrousness)
Overall, scale - lost completely in gods and titans, quadrupeds used well
Theme - generous- monstrousness but more likely quadrupeds and dead bodies used to fit the scale
No clear link to Artemis
Symbolism of the temple of Artemis at Corcyra ?
Was this successful ?
Nigel Spivey argues that this pediment is symbolic of allegiance / control of Corinth - the original home polis of which Corfu was a colony. This is because in Corinth, medusa features heavily on the coinage
Success ?
Bit of a stretch. Not clear symbolism
How is the temple of Artemis at Corcyra definitively archaic ?
Medusa has an archaic smile
Figures creepily frontally emphasised including corpses
Symmetry in medusa with intertwining snake belt, mirrored quadrupeds, similar battles and corpses in the corner.
Medusa’s swastika limbs showing difficultly with 3/4 turn
Archaic hair
Why might you like the temple of Artemis at Corcyra ?
Mad energy!
Who does the gorgon look like on the temple of Artemis at Corcyra ?
Tamblin
Which 2 pediments are relief sculpture ?
Temple of Artemis at Corcyra
Siphnian treasury at Delphi
Despite putting a god in the apex at the siphnian treasury at Delphi, how is the scale compromised in the central scene ?
Apollo and Artemis are next to him and are smaller.
This undermines the effectiveness of putting a god in the apex which only works surrounded by mortals, to justify its height
What is the myth associated with the siphnian treasury ?
Heracles fights Apollo and Artemis for a tripod that he takes in an attempt to cleanse himself of bloodshed
Describe the composition of the siphnian treasury ?
How is it successful / not successful in terms of scale and theme ?
Zeus central figure
Artemis and Apollo next to him ‘fighting’ over a tripod
(Figures are smaller which undermines scale)
(Figures don’t seem to be fighting because of technical inabilities just standing with arms out - inconsistent with theme)
Fighting with Herakles
Around them are figures with quadropeds
(Scale is lost as quadropeds are not fully utilised with one facing down the pediment)
( thematic link here is unclear )
Overall , loss is scale despite putting god in apex
Central theme deteriorates down the pediment
How is the siphnian treasury definitively archaic ? (2)
Herakles has a harsh twist with his head directly opposite his feet
Struggles to depict 3/4 turn.
This arguably undermines the narrative
Similar poses of Apollo Artemis conveys archaic repetition and could also reflect the fact they are siblings
Any symbolism or link to place of the siphnian treasury ?
Link to Delphi which is the home of the story
No explicit symbolism
What is the first pediment to SUCCESSFULLY use a god in the apex
Temple of Aphaia at Aegina west
Which temple is half archaic half classical?
Temple of Aphaia at Aegina
What is the symbolism of the temple of Aphaia at Aegina ?
Glories Aegina’s towering heroic figures which celebrates Aegean prestige through these heroes.
This may be in response to Athenian rivalry - Perikles of Athens called Aegina the “eyesore of the Piraeus”, the Aegeans used ‘aphaia’ instead of ‘athene’ because it sounded like Athens
Developed symbolism
Describe the WEST Pediment of Aphaia at Aegina’s composition and it’s successes/ failures with scale and theme
Archaic one Aphaia in the apex in typical archaic form (God in apex - scale) Wears aegis - in line with war theme (War as a unifying theme) Pair of combatants (Smaller - scale) (War as a unifying theme) Archer Jumpsuit and hat to indicate identity, would rely on being painted rather than sculpting for identity (On knees - scale) Dying warrior - frontal emphasis (Scale - lying down) (Theme- war, however smiling arguably ruins it)
Overall, successful in scale putting god in apex and in theme war is used to unify it.
Traditional archaic setbacks however arguably undermine the narrative and therefore theme e.g. Dying warrior
Describe how APHAIA from the west pediment of Aphaia at Aegina is definitively archaic ?
Aphaia Potent hulking goddess like Berlin Kore Frontal emphasis Archaic hair Archaic smile
Pattern emphasis with the shape of the shield (a circle) repeated showing archaic interest in geometry
Describe how other figures other than Aphaia on the WEST pediment of the temple of Aphaia at Aegina are definitively archaic ?
Archer
Less vigorous movement relying on painting for identification rather than sculpting.
Archaic limitations
Dying warrior -struggles in 3/4 turn -frontally emphasised -archaic hair - archaic smile / awkward limbs repeat geometric triangular shapes
Which pediment delivers the Trojan war ?
Which warriors are depicted
On which side of the pediment
Temple of Aphaia at Aegina
Ajax - west
Telemon- east
Describe the composition of the EAST pediment of the temple of Aphaia at Aegina in relation to scale and theme ?
Aphaia in apex (Scale - god in apex) (War as unifying theme ) Warriors fighting (Scale - allows for various positions going down pediment) (Theme - war as a unifying theme) Archer (On knees - scale ) (Theme - war) Dying warrior - (Scale - fit into corners) (Theme - war)
How is the EAST pediment of the temple of Aphaia at Aegina more successful than the WEST pediment in terms of technical developments contributing to a better THEME ?
Aphaia - modelling , more realistic , female proportions
Archer - realistic muscle definitions, lion hat for Herakles identification, muscles show movement
(Vigour in statue fits more realistically into theme of war)
Dying warrior -
No frontal emphasis
Realistic 3/4 turn
Looks down with dignity - 5th century war depiction !!!
Looks solemn clings to shield for life
(Fitting into scale and theme realistically)
What is the significance of the EAST pediment of Zeus at Olympia ?
Myth of the chariot race is the foundation of the Olympic Games so is appropriate to the pediment’s location
The river gods that are in the pediments corners are rivers that the race was run between
How does the east pediment of Zeus at Olympia create static tension ?
Little interaction - conveys intensity of pre race
All figures looking inward minus the youth conveys tension as it draws you further into the tense central scene
The prophet / seer conveys a gesture of anxiety looking into the race as if seeing what’s to come - further conveys tension of narrative
The child next to the seer picking his feet unaware of events further highlights the tension as he is unaware of it
