Visual Sources Flashcards
1
Q
List all of the Greek visual sources and what they depict
A
- KYLIX triptolemas painter depicting Persians fighting Greeks
- FRIEZE at temple of Athena Nike depicting Persians and Greeks fighting
- FRIEZE at temple of Apollo Bassae depicting Amazons and Greeks fighting
- KYLIX showing Achilles and Penthesilea fighting
- BELL KRATER showing Achilles and Penthesilea fighting
- KARTER showing Heracles fighting amazons
2
Q
List all of the Persian visual sources
A
- Tomb of Cyrus
- Cyrus cylinder
- Statue of Darius
- Rock relief
- Site of Persepolis (Apadana and gate of all nations)
- Golden armlets
- Silver griffin Rhyton
- Head of Persian prince
- Statue of naked youth
3
Q
Describe the two items from the Oxus treasure
A
- Gold armlets
Display griffins, made of precious metal so represent wealth, very intricate so contradict Greek perception of barbarians - Statue of naked Persian youth
Not very detailed showing that artist wasn’t skilled highlighting Greek artistic superiority, has hat over hair!
4
Q
Describe the silver Rhyton
A
- Drinking vessel
- Made of precious metal, showing Persian wealth
- image of the griffin was popular in Greece showing cultural seeding
5
Q
Describe the head of the Persian prince
A
- Made of Lapis Lazuli a precious metal found in Afghanistan showing wealth as well as expansion and size of the empire
- Full cheeks and layered chin suggest he has access to many resources and plentiful food highlight wealth of empire again
- Hair covered by crown, difficult for artist?
6
Q
Describe the Rock relief
A
- At Bisitun on royal road
- has inscription which is not readable from road, Darius’ message to the gods , it was distributed through empire
- 3 languages inscribed to show Darius cultural acceptance
- Ahrumazda shown to emphasise Darius legitimacy to the throne
- Shows Darius punishing rebel kings, is this a warning? Tyranny?
- Darius is physically larger than the rest showing his superiority
- Scythian king added to relief later showing expansion of empire and power of Darius
- Guards have bows, cowards
- Darius wearing kidaris (crown)
7
Q
Describe the Tomb of Cyrus
A
- small and underwhelming, Cyrus wants to be seen as humble and liberal
- Egyptian style showing cultural enthusiasm
- uses technique used by Greeks to build without cement
- Cyrus is confident in his authority doesn’t need a big tomb
At Pasargadae
8
Q
Describe the Cyrus cylinder
A
- found under temple in Babylon, message to gods not to be read
- distributed through empire in different languages
- depicts Cyrus as a welcomed and culturally accepting ruler; restored temples and religion, defeat of Nabonidius
- depicts size of Cyrus army ‘like droplets in a river’
- small damaged item
9
Q
Describe the site of Persepolis
A
Chosen as religious capital due to it being the place of Cyrus last victory
- Gate of All Nations
- build by Xerxes
- guarded by Lamassu connecting the king to myth
- large and intimidating to suppress and give feeling of submission in compared to king (tyranny?)
- trilingual inscription - Apadana
- built by Darius
- Staircase depicting satraps bringing gifts to the king
- guard inscriptions expressing size of army and importance of military
10
Q
Describe the statue of Darius
A
- approximately 3m tall (missing neck and head)
- AKINAKES royal dagger being help by Darius
- hieroglyphs and Egyptian god Hapi is shown, showing cultural acceptance
- 24 subject nations depicted below Darius, power of empire? Tyranny?
- long robe expressing wealth
- made of Greywacke not a precious metal
- God Hapi shows Darius associating himself with prosperity and life
- only freestanding statue in Persia
11
Q
Describe the image on the KYLIX by Triptolemos painter
A
- depicts Persian fighting Greek
- Persian in inappropriate clothing and poor weaponry
- Greek is dominant and larger than Persian taking up centre of image
- central emphasis of Sheila suggests importance in defence of polis
12
Q
Describe image on frieze at temple of Athene Nike
A
- depicts Persians fighting Greeks
- Greeks are heroically nude
- Greeks often see above Persians making them look inferior
- Persians have incorrect armour and weaponry
13
Q
Describe image on Bell - KRATER of Achilles and Penthesilea
A
- Achilles is heroically nude
- Penthesilea is running away from Achilles showing Greek superiority as he is killing their leader
- Penthesilea is wearing robes and a useless hat
- comparison of the shields shows selfish nature for barbarians vs polis community of Greeks
- Penthesilea has an axe ‘selfish weapon’
- Penthesilea has one breast, removal of femininity is scary
14
Q
Describe image on KYLIX of Achilles and Penthesilea
A
- Penthesilea is suplicating to Achilles which is scary as she is not a greek and this is a Greek custom
- Penthesilea weak scrapped foot suggests desperation
- Achilles is physically bigger than Penthesilea and the pot can barely contain him
- Achilles is heroically nude
15
Q
Describe the Frize at Bassae at the temple of Apollo
A
- depicts Amazon’s fighting Greeks
- the irrelevance of Bassae highlights the importance of myth as a part of Greek culture as they have such an impressive frieze
- Heroically nude Greeks
- Amazons portrayed as feminine, robes, hair and breasts
- Greeks are not always seen to Be attacking showing strength of amazons
