Introduction
Greek mythology is one of the most famous mythologies in the world. The best-known stories from Greek mythology start with the renowned twelve gods and goddesses of Olympus: Zeus, Hera, Athena, Apollo, Poseidon, Ares, Artemis, Demeter, Aphrodite, Dionysos, Hermes and Hephaistos. The ancient Greeks worshipped dozens more gods; however, the twelve Olympians are the most influential gods and hold the most significant impact on society today. People may recognise these names worldwide as they are featured in countless movies, TV shows, songs, and business names; even cities have been named after these gods. Above all else, these gods and goddesses have dramatically influenced the artistic world for thousands of years, with existing figures still standing in the 21st century.
Architecture Built for Gods
Architecture is very commonly built in worship of gods as diverse religions are spread far and wide across the world. Ancient Greece built temples for individual gods and goddesses, often with colossal statues of the gods for the Greeks to worship. The Iconic Temple of Zeus was estimated to have been built around 470 BC, with little remains today due to a devastating earthquake. The marvel took thirteen years to construct and was likely never fully finished. It stood in classical Greek architecture terms with six and thirteen columns evenly spaced, sculptures on the pediment (triangle above the columns) painting stories of the 12 labors of Hercules – another god, and completed with a magnificent golden statue of Zeus (image 1), God of the sky and thunder. Zeus has always been considered the father and protector of all gods and humans, which led to such a grand statue that has the honour of now being known as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
The Parthenon temple (image 2), which sits atop the Acropolis – also known as the sacred rock in Athens, amongst many ancient Greek monuments, honoured Athena, goddess of wisdom and war. The ancient Greeks then decided they wanted the Parthenon to celebrate all twelve Greek mythology Olympians after their victory over the Persians. The architects brought this vision to life through the sculptured tales occupying the pediments, just like the Greek mythological battle between Athena and Poseidon over who would rule Attica. People travel from all corners of the Earth today to visit the Parthenon; this masterpiece of the Doric order was the largest temple in Athens and broke the strict boundaries of classical Greek architecture by building eight columns along the front and back of the temple, as opposed to the typical six-column structure yet still holding a twelve-metre golden statue of the goddess Athena.
Ancient Greek architecture and classical temples have taken years of continuous hard labouring and hand-sculpting; the ancient Greeks poured their heart and soul into these masterpieces. Many likely lost their lives in the process. Still, it was all deemed worth it as Greek mythology taught everyone that if you respected and honoured the gods and goddesses, you would live a healthy and prosperous life and pass on to Elysium (heaven) in the afterlife.
Art Honouring the Gods
Sculptures, statues, friezes, pots, vases, mosaics, and even jewellery were all designed in honour of the gods and goddesses of Greek mythology. Artistic representations bring Greek mythology to life; these immortal beings are etched into the world forever. Statues are deemed the most iconic pieces of ancient Greece that stand today, carved from bronze, marble, limestone, and gold. These famous storytelling statues were made to honour esteemed members of ancient society and their gods. The skilled craftsmen who carved these statues by hand created such intricate details that many people in the 21st century would struggle to replicate, even with all their modern advancements. Because of the strong materials and the complexity of the statues, people nowadays can see a glimpse of this marvellous ancient society.
One of the most recognised Greek statues is Venus De Milo (image 3), which depicts Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, also called Venus. This marble statue was sculpted sometime between 130-100 BC and is a prime example of the statues and artwork of this period. The Venus De Milo was discovered in 1820 on the island of Milos. After being presented to King Louis XVIII a year later, he donated it to the Louvre, where it now resides in Paris as one of the most famous female figures in the entire gallery. Once The Louvre brought her to light, there were many vital discussions on whether to restore her missing arms, but eventually, it was decided that this would risk changing the true nature of the piece too much. Whilst the lack of arms makes this statue so iconic now, it was hard for archaeologists to identify the goddess as statues typically hold clues to their identity in their hands. After careful evaluation, the scales tipped in favour of Aphrodite with her sensual half-naked form, jewellery and a hand holding an apple found near the statue’s original site. Greek mythology tales portray gods and goddesses with specific ‘attributes’ just like the apple in Aphrodite’s hand, which allows archaeologists to identify each figure. Another famous Greek statue, now displayed in the Vatican Museum, depicts the Greek mythology tale of Laocoön and his twin sons being murdered by two great sea serpents (image 4) sent by Athena and Poseidon. Laocoön was a priest of Apollo during the Trojan War and warned his fellow Trojans against taking in the wooden horse the Greeks left, leading to the Greek gods going after him and his sons.
Pottery is an essential artistic representation of ancient Greece and Greek mythology. Greek pottery had a wide range of shapes, sizes, and purposes, and it was typically decorated with red or black figure paintings of Greek mythologies. One of the most famous ancient Greek vases is the Meidias Hydria (image 5), which has been returned to the Acropolis Museum by the British Museum. The Greek vase is approximately 50cm tall and was used as a water jar by women collecting water from the local well. Meidias Hydria was made in 420 BC by the famous vase-painter Meidias; it is covered in red-figured paintings of Greek mythology tales, such as a series telling the story of Heracles – God of strength. The British Museum bought this icon of Greek mythology for over $10,000 in 2023, and it’s worth proving how important Greek mythology is to the world. Greek mythology has imprinted itself across various cultures and has physical representations embedded in museums and galleries across the globe. Through the stories brought to life by sculptures, paintings, and many other mediums, Greek mythology subtly teaches core values to people from all corners of the world and will continue to influence people for as long as these honorary pieces may stand.
References:
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BBC Teach. (2023). Theatre, architecture, culture, Ancient Greece. [YouTube video]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5XEtyHO-wc
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Verde, A. (2020). How Parthenon Architecture Uses Mythology as Propaganda. [online]. Available at: https://thatmuse.com/2020/03/10/how-parthenon-architecture-uses-mythology-as-propaganda/#:~:text=The%20Parthenon%20architecture%2C%20one%20of,sense%20of%20the%20real%20world.
Images
Image 1. The Statue of Zeus inside the temple. [painting]. Available at: https://medium.com/@jonestyler581/a-description-of-the-statue-of-zeus-at-olympia-789198b5bc22
Image 2. The Parthenon at the Acropolis. [Photograph]. Available at: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Parthenon
Image 3. Venus De Milo. [Photograph]. Available at: https://www.louvre.fr/en/explore/the-palace/ideal-greek-beauty
Image 4. Statue of Laocoön and his sons. [Photograph]. Available at: https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/museo-pio-clementino/Cortile-Ottagono/laocoonte.html#&gid=1&pid=1
Image 5. Trustees of the British Museum. Meidias Hydria. [Photograph]. Available at: https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/11/23/british-museums-loans-ancient-greek-meidias-vase-athens-acropolis-museum
