Connections between Greek Historical Figures and Myth
There was a strong connection between reality and Greek myths. Various stories were adapted with mythological themes in mind, while others were depictions of myth influenced by the heroism of real Greek heroes. In some instances, mythological embellishment of a historical event could have been used to emphasize a theme regarding the event, as with the metopes of the Parthenon. Additionally, in Rome, it was not uncommon for statues of leaders to depict them as gods or goddesses to emphasize their attributes or to provide a sense of their “divine right” to rule. Many of these tropes used in Greek art and literature are still common in contemporary media, especially the use of embellishing …show more content…
After the sacking of Athens and the destruction from the fighting all across Greece, rebuilding was started and much of the iconography used as decoration in the rebuilding process likely played homage to this conflict. One of the best examples of this is on the metopes of the Parthenon, where experts believe myth was used to represent the victory of the Greeks over the barbarous Persians. The Gigantomachy is an excellent example of this as throughout Greek history, the giants were depicted as barbarians (Athena and Zeus fighting giants, Tyszkiewicz Painter, 480 BC, Attic red-figure hydria shoulder) or as monsters with snakes for legs (Hekate and Artemis and their opponents, unknown artist, 180-160 BC, marble relief). In the Gigantomachy metopes, this was no different as the giants were used to depict the “impiety” of the Persians. Their barbarous nature was also depicted by the Centauromachy metopes. The Amazonomachy metopes alluded to the fact that the Persians were “aggressive, eastern invaders” as denoted by the dress of the Amazons. While finally, the Trojan War metopes were used to signify the “victory by the united …show more content…
Much like with the story of Telephos being inspired by the real-life events of Themistokles to create a poem, the codes and methods of exchanging messages used during the Revolutionary War may have inspired the idea for the existence of a “national treasure” kept hidden by secret societies for hundreds of years. Additionally, by drawing in key locations from the Revolutionary War like Independence Hall or objects like the Declaration of Independence, is similar to painters reusing the poses of the Tyrannicides in order to emphasize freedom and democracy through the hero of Athens, Theseus. The fact that the American protagonists are able to outdo the British and Confederate-siding antagonists is used to show how a Union-siding America will always be the victor, similarly to the Parthenon metopes and the Trojan War set in
There was a strong connection between reality and Greek myths. Various stories were adapted with mythological themes in mind, while others were depictions of myth influenced by the heroism of real Greek heroes. In some instances, mythological embellishment of a historical event could have been used to emphasize a theme regarding the event, as with the metopes of the Parthenon. Additionally, in Rome, it was not uncommon for statues of leaders to depict them as gods or goddesses to emphasize their attributes or to provide a sense of their “divine right” to rule. Many of these tropes used in Greek art and literature are still common in contemporary media, especially the use of embellishing …show more content…
After the sacking of Athens and the destruction from the fighting all across Greece, rebuilding was started and much of the iconography used as decoration in the rebuilding process likely played homage to this conflict. One of the best examples of this is on the metopes of the Parthenon, where experts believe myth was used to represent the victory of the Greeks over the barbarous Persians. The Gigantomachy is an excellent example of this as throughout Greek history, the giants were depicted as barbarians (Athena and Zeus fighting giants, Tyszkiewicz Painter, 480 BC, Attic red-figure hydria shoulder) or as monsters with snakes for legs (Hekate and Artemis and their opponents, unknown artist, 180-160 BC, marble relief). In the Gigantomachy metopes, this was no different as the giants were used to depict the “impiety” of the Persians. Their barbarous nature was also depicted by the Centauromachy metopes. The Amazonomachy metopes alluded to the fact that the Persians were “aggressive, eastern invaders” as denoted by the dress of the Amazons. While finally, the Trojan War metopes were used to signify the “victory by the united …show more content…
Much like with the story of Telephos being inspired by the real-life events of Themistokles to create a poem, the codes and methods of exchanging messages used during the Revolutionary War may have inspired the idea for the existence of a “national treasure” kept hidden by secret societies for hundreds of years. Additionally, by drawing in key locations from the Revolutionary War like Independence Hall or objects like the Declaration of Independence, is similar to painters reusing the poses of the Tyrannicides in order to emphasize freedom and democracy through the hero of Athens, Theseus. The fact that the American protagonists are able to outdo the British and Confederate-siding antagonists is used to show how a Union-siding America will always be the victor, similarly to the Parthenon metopes and the Trojan War set in