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Digital Exhibits: Ancient Art 203 Main Menu Ancient Art Table of Contents Sample Exhibit - Herakles in Greek Art Depictions of Herakles in Greek Art Angyal- The Culture of Pre-Columbian Times This exhibit displays the important symbols culture during ancient Pre-Columbia. Aversa- Ancient Faces The collection includes portraits of many Ancient faces made of marble, limestone, bronze and black basalt. Brookes - Sculptures Of The Gods A look at Sculptures of Gods during the classical and hellenistic period of Greek history. This will tell you the stories of the Gods being shown and the growth of realism during this period. CERMINARA-Ancient Greek Figurines Exploration of different Terracotta figurines from ancient Greece Cooke -- Black Figure Art from Ancient Greece This page will highlight some works that were made using black figure, which is named for the color of the figures depicted in the art. Costa- Death and Afterlife Foley - Statues and figures of Greek Mythology My theme is Greek Mythology in the forms of statues and figures Fowler How the human body is depicted through Ancient Art Harris - Greek Athletes The Olympian games began in Greek times. These pieces will depict Greek Athletes doing the games Joseph - Hellenistic Art The Hellanistic art style focuses on realistic, natural human forms. Straying away from the rigid unnatural forms of ancient sculpture styles before it. Lamon- Mythical Creatures in Greek and Cycladic Art This exhibit will take a look at how Mediterranean civilizations depicted a few mythical beasts throughout different periods. Leszczynski - Late Minoan, Creature, Covered, Gems A collection of Lentoid gems engraved by Minoan craftsman. Some served a useful purpose as seals. This collection spans the Late Minoan I-II period to the Late Minoan II-IIIA period. McDonough - Medusa in Ancient Greek Art A look at one of Greek mythology's most feared creatures Meehan - Ancient Spartan Art Popular Art and Customs of Sparta and Laconia Nelson - Ancient Egyptian Statues This digital exhibit displays a collection of statues from Ancient Egypt Ramos- Marble Figurines Females figurines are an important part of ancient Greeks art history . Raquet- The Acropolis Reunited Putting the Parthenon back together SHORT - Representations of the Minotaur and His Story SmithKali - Depictions of the Human Body Starrs--Art of the Trojan War A sampling of pottery inspired by the mythical Trojan War. Wible - Aphrodite My theme is the representation of Aphrodite through different types of art.

Terracotta two-handled vase

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McDonough - Medusa in Ancient Greek Art
Introduction
Medusa is one of the most widely recognizable figures from Ancient Greek art. She is most commonly known for having snakes for hair and having the ability to turn anyone to stone upon looking into her eyes. She is depicted in several different literary works, including works by ancient writers and poets such as Homer, Hesiod, and Pindar. Each depiction provides a wide-ranging and diverse picture of the fabled creature, from evil and manipulative to beautiful and charming. In art, she is also portrayed very differently from one piece to the next. Her face is usually designed as either fierce and grotesque, or feminine and composed. This depiction was drastically changed from the Archaic to the Hellenistic periods, as she was scary in the Archaic and beautiful in the Hellenistic. She is most commonly interpreted as an apotropaic symbol used to protect from and ward off any negativity, much like the modern evil eye. She represents a dangerous threat meant to deter other dangerous threats (evil repelling evil). Her role in Greek mythology and art reveals a nuanced and complex character with multiple iterations and implications.
Gorgon Medusa
The head of Gorgon Medusa, also known as a gorgoneion, was a popular theme for terracotta antefixes during ancient times. These antefixes were used as ornamental covers which conceal the ends of tiles along the edge of a roof. This type of antefix was typically found in Sicily and southern Italy. During the Archaic period, Medusa was almost always depicted as a monstrous figure with huge eyes and an unsettling, big smile, which can be seen in this antefix. These exaggerated features and surprisingly well-preserved, fierce colors of black, white and red, allowed viewers to see this piece from the ground, as they looked up at the roof.
Roundel with Head of Medusa
The central decoration on this roundel is the head of Medusa. In this piece, Medusa is depicted differently than normal. She was given a beautiful face, with wavy locks of thick, gorgeous hair, which is a clear change in how she was depicted in previous years. Created in the Hellenistic period, this change pretty much revolutionized the way she was created for years to come. She has small wings above her forehead which indicate that she is the Gorgon sister of Stheno and Euryale. There are traces of pink and blue paint along the roundel, which allows one to use their imagination in figuring out where those colors might have been. Medusa remained a popular decoration through Greek and Roman periods. This roundel would be found decorating a wall or piece of furniture.
Perseus Beheading Medusa
Perseus was sent by King Polydectes to obtain the head of Medusa. King Polydectes did this so that he could marry Perseus' mother, and the only way he could do that was to send Perseus far away. He accomplished this mission with the help of Athena, Hermes, and two nymphs, who gave him gifts that would help him during the dangerous stunt. He then returned back to the kingdom and was praised for years to come. By mid-fifth century B.C., this story became one of the most popular motifs in Attic art. This rendition, though, is rather unusual for this time period, as Medusa is depicted as a beautiful young woman, and not a terrifying gorgon. Another important aspect of this, but is no longer readily visible, are the rays surrounding the hero's (Perseus) head, as if he is recognized as a special stature or power. This terracotta pelike was created in red-figure, which is basically a black-filled background, with the figures left in red.
Vase with Medusa Head
This vase is a variant of the funnel-jar with relief plaques. It was found in a burial, along with other vases of similar kind. The decoration on this is very sculptural, with the two handles in the form of Erotes, winged gods that are associated with love. In this piece, plaster copies replace the original handles, due to loss of the originals. The Medusa on the front remained miraculously in tact as opposed to the other pieces on the vase. She is depicted as almost a normal looking woman with snakes coming out of her head. With Medusa being on the front, it is assumed that she was placed there to act as a guardian and to ward off evil for the deceased in the burial. There was once a statuette that stood on ledge between her wings, but that has since been lost. This piece was created in the early Hellenistic period.
Medusa as Armor
The presence of Medusa on armor reinforces the idea that her presence held significant power to protect the wearer against enemies. Gorgons would be present on almost all types of armor, including helmets, shields, and greaves. In this image, the greave, or shin guard, has a decoration on the uppermost part, where the knee would be. In this figural motif, the gorgoneion is that part that would cover the knee. The Greek's believed that it would be able to transfix the enemy and win in battle. It is made of bronze, which was not that easy to break through when the warriors went to battle. This particular greave was created in the classical period, which allows the features to be a bit more realistic than periods before.

This page is referenced by:

Introduction

Gorgon Medusa

Roundel with Head of Medusa

Perseus Beheading Medusa

Vase with Medusa Head

Medusa as Armor