A219 Exploring the Classical World

A219 Exploring the Classical World Essay PART ONE Look at the Illustrations Book, Plate 16 capital of Greece Parthenon. South metopeXXXI. Lapith and centaur. 447439 BCE (1. 3 x 1. 3 m). In no much than 500 words (i) briefly provide the context of this sculpture (ii) discuss the ways in which its flying field matter conveyed a governmental message to Athenian viewers Metopes were situated on the outside of the Parthenon construct they be high reliefs carved into rectangular slabs placed over the columns. There are 92 Metopes on the Parthenon building, which relate to four different myths.The Parthenon itself is a Temple dedicated to the Goddess genus Athene built on the Acropolis in Athens. Metope XXXI found on the southern side of the Parthenon believed to depict the Centauromachy the mythologic battle between Centaurs and Lapiths. The mythical Lapith king invited the Centaurs to his wedding. Where the Centaurs got drunk and tried to abduct the bride as headspring as the former (a) Lapith women. The Lapiths fought off the Centaurs and were victorious. (Art the Parthenon http//www. ancientgreece. com/s/Parthenon/)The Parthenon erected during the 440s- 430sBCE was the largest of the temples on the Acropolis it was a classic Doric design which incorporated roughly Ionic architectural features. flat though a in truth impressive structure it housed the equ onlyy impressive Statue of genus Athene Pathenos do with ivory and Gold, and had a separate room housing a treasury. It did not hold the most sacred control of genus Athene, which was a statue made of olivewood, which was within the Athena Polias Temple. This is where the Panathenaic procession ended in the early fifth century.Before the Erecthion was spotless in 406 BCE (A219, DVD 2, Section3, Tracks 2-3) The other subjects of the metopes are The Trojan War, Greeks verses Amazons and The Gods verses Giants. An overall theme of order that the Greeks would prevail against non-Greeks (block2 calve 2 p79) The Parthenon dominated the Acropolis and seen from afar it showed off the power of Athens their military prowess and the dominance of Athens over the rest of the Greek-speaking world and beyond. (Art the Parthenon http//www. ancientgreece. om/s/Parthenon/) The Parthenon was part of Pericles building architectural plan funded by the treasury of the Delian League, which it housed when it was completed. The political message conveyed by the subject matter of metope XXXI and the Parthenon, as a whole was one of favourable position over their barbarous enemies. It portrayed barbarians non Athenians/Greeks as not having both morals, self-restraint or the ability to give birth reasoned rational thoughts or discussions. (OCC, p111-112) Centaurs and Amazons had become the epitome of barbarian forces who opposed the cultural and political ethos, which was overriding in Athens at that time. OCC, P148-149). The housing of the treasury of the Delian League within the Parthenon cannot be i gnored either, It made it into a polite as well as religious building. The Delian League formed in 478 BCE against the continual threat of Persian attack. Athens did not control the funds from the formation of the league in 478 BCE they seized the luck to do so soon after. (BHAG, p139-140). . Athens then transferred the funds from Delos in approximately 454BCE to Athens. Athens screening its prominence to the world was also a nationalistic exercise, forging a common link among Athenians and other Greek speaking states.Bibliography Art the Parthenon, (2012 January 10) Retrieved January, 10, 2012 http//www. ancientgreece. com/s/Parthenon/) Hornblower, S. and Spawforth, A. (eds) (1998) The Oxford Companion to Classical Civilization, Oxford Oxford University bid. (A219, DVD 2, Section3, Tracks 2-3) Pomeroy, S. B. , Burstein S. M. , Donlan W. and Roberts, J. T. (2004) A Brief tale of Ancient Greece Politics, Society and Culture, Oxford Oxford University Press Part Two The Athenian a rtistic perfor military mances and displays of the fifth century BCE were first of all and foremost a form of propaganda. Do you agree or disagree with this Statement? Answer with references to at least two of the following the art and architecture of the Acropolis, the Ephitaphios boy, Persians and Lysistrata Propaganda is a subjective term so for the purposes of this seek I will be using the definition provided by the (OCC, p573. ) Using Persians, Art and architecture of the Acropolis, the Ephitaphios Logos and Aristophanes Lysistrata to explore the different forms propaganda takes and whether it makes a text or piece of architecture more about propaganda than any other purpose it may serve.Before discussing these texts and architecture, it is worth noting that Pericles is closely connected to the first three items under discussion. Although Strategos at the outbreak of the Peloponnesian struggle he died within approx in the first two and a one-half stratums of the outbreak i n429 BCE. Pericles a democratic aristocrat born in 495BCE was very successful. He was the (choregos) let loose leader responsible for the training and paying of the festival chorus for Aeschylus Persians in 472BCE he initiated the building program on the Acropolis in the 440s-430s BCE and gave the first Ephitaphios Logos of the Peloponnesian war.He was elected general (Strategos) for 29 years consecutively uncontested (OCC, p527) although democracy had been around for 50 years Pericles was the one who championed it that as well as Athenian imperialism. His peers held him in high regard. (Bhag, p145) Aeschylus Persians financed by Pericles is an handsome example of Integration propaganda it sought to reinforce the nature of the barbarian. Which were un-Athenian, barbarians were unschooled effeminate subject to the rule of one leader, which was anathema to the Athenian sense of superiority of mind, body and tongue.Aeschylus make out the play in Persia and detailed lots of the def eat that they be in possession of suffered it was a lesson in what happens if one man rather than the democratic process should gain power. Persians celebrates the Greek victories over Persia and is patting itself on the back for having such an excellent democratic government rather than a despotic leader like Xerxes who in his hubris ransacked the temples on the Acropolis. In the speech made by Dareios (Persians lines 824-832) it is clear that the play is a moral lesson to all including the Greeks and Athenians against hubris. As well as being very pro Athenian. Block 2, part one) The Parthenon itself was both a civic and religious building its many ornate features evoking arrogance and citizenship. The temple was much larger than others were and could be seen from afar being high up on the Acropolis. Its large selection of decorations was superbly created the pediment pieces were fully carved all around even though they could not be viewed. On the west pediment, the dispute bet ween Athena and Poseidon was represented competing with their chariots for the city of Athens this faced the Propylaea and could be seen from the rest of the city.The eastern pediment bore the tale of Athenas birth from the head of Zeus. The inclusion of a second elaborate frieze, around the inside wall, that was ordinarily viewed from afar between the outer columns. Was not a usual feature of Doric temples. The frieze believed by some scholars to evoke the Panathenaic festival is an extravagant addition to the temple. The festival is an annual event in honour of Goddess Athenas Birthday.On the frieze itself people are depicted as well as Gods women and horseman and possibly slaves gravid rise to the possibility that Athens was a society that included everybody.. This is the first instance of people being represented on a temple decoration. This could be argued that it is defiantly more about civic pride than piety. The building program, which Pericles instigated also, included th e Erecthion, the Propylaea and the Temple of Athena Nike (victory) they were to show that Athens had recovered from the Persian attack on the Acropolis in 480 BCE.The whole program was funded by money from the Delian league (Block 2, Part 2) In The Ephitaphios Logos, a interpreting of Pericles speech by Thucydides at the end of the first year of the Peloponnesian war, he presents a very nationalistic view of Athens and of the Athenians themselves he starts out by praising the ancestors for handing down the country gratis(p) and makes it clear that they did this with valour. When he states in (Readings book 2. 37) that, their constitution does not copy others but that others are more likely to copy it.He is saying we are the best. The speech goes on to expound the virtues of Athenian democracy and way of life and in doing so he manages to contrast it with that of life and rule in the autocratic Greek states and non Greek lands. He seeks to instil national pride and remind the citi zens of their civic duties to the state as well to fellow Athenians. As when a country is at war, patriotism is very important and how snap off to remind them of their greatness and accomplishments.It was propaganda to reinforce Athenian pride in their state and to demonize the enemy by contrasting it yet again against the mighty and great Athens. (Block 2, Part 3) , AritophanesLysistrata written and performed in the twentieth year of the Peloponnesian War 411BCE was written at a time when the war was not going well for Athens they had suffered heavy losses. Things were not going to get any better for them. Political satirist Aristophanes takes the global and turns it upon its head. He uses a world where mere women can outwit the men.To end a war that everybody was sick of apart from the government who had the funds to keep it going. Using all the satirist tricks of comedy, farce, parody, and a jolly fool he manages to convey that the war has gone on long enough and even offers s olutions with the comparison of womens work (Lysistrata 575-587). Combining this with a good mix of the bawdy, song and dance he connects with his interview who know what the political position is at the time. In direct contrast to the above pro Athenian propaganda of Pericles achievements, Aristophanes Lysistrata is anti-war/Athenian propaganda. Block 2, Part Four) In conclusion, I find it hard it difficult to agree or disagree that any of the propaganda presented was the primary function of either the plays or architecture of the Acropolis. The Parthenon could very well have as much about piety as it was propaganda and the plays also had other functions Persians as a inform to all about the consequences of impiety and Lysistrata as a comedy that took the circumstances at the time so as to connect with the audience.Bibliography Hornblower, S. and Spawforth, A. (eds) (1998) The Oxford Companion to Classical Civilization, Oxford Oxford University Press. Pomeroy, S. B. , Burstein S. M. , Donlan W. and Roberts, J. T. (2004) A Brief History of Ancient Greece Politics, Society and Culture, Oxford Oxford University Press Budelmann F, Hardwick L, Robson S, (2006) A219 Block 2 Classical Athens, Milton Keynes The Open University A219 Readings Book 1, (2006) Milton Keynes The Open University