Ancient Art Research Paper

Ancient art has influenced the modern world and modern perceptions of art by means of architecture and artisanal craft. While stylistically, architectural figures such as columns have not changed much from antiquity to modern times, the meaning and function of columns has developed a new meaning. Columns in antiquity provided support to a structure, while the styles of the columns told what type of structure it was. Today, there are columns that provide no functional support and are there purely for decoration. Works on pottery depicting a story in ancient times did just that: told a story. But in modern times, pottery is now used more for aesthetics. Moreover, the stories told on these works have changed meaning as time has worn on. There …show more content…
In antiquity, the gods appeared on pottery to tell a story. A specific piece is a krater which depicts Artemis and Apollo slaying the children of Niobe. In Greek mythology, Artemis and Apollo were twin gods. Artemis was the goddess of the Hunt, nature, and the moon. Apollo was the god of the Sun, music, and truth. Niobe was the daughter of the king Tantalus, a son of Zeus. The story goes that Niobe had six sons and six daughters, of which she flaunted and claimed she was superior to the Titan Leto, mother of the twin gods Artemis and Apollo. As punishment for hubris, Artemis and Apollo killed all of the children of Niobe, Artemis killing the girls and Apollo, the boys. After this, “the bodies of the dead children lay for nine days unburied because Zeus had turned all the Thebans to stone, but on the 10th day they were buried by the gods.” (Encyclopedia Britannica, "Niobe") Niobe was later turned into a stone on a mountain, and it is said that she continues to weep for her children every spring when the winter snow …show more content…
For example, the brand Nike is named for the winged goddess of victory. The book series Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a popular example of using Greek gods in the modern day. While Niobe and her children are not often depicted in popular culture and media nowadays, Artemis and Apollo are, although Apollo more often than his twin. For instance, the Apollo spacecrafts were represented by the chariot of Apollo, which he used to guide the sun across the sky. There are countless other smaller references to Apollo, such as later depictions in sculptures, poems, novels, television shows, even names of restaurants. Artemis, however, is not as popular an icon. She does not appear very often in media, however many modern characters reference her personality traits and abilities. Architectural figures such as columns have largely remained the same from antiquity to modern times, though the meaning and function of columns have become more widespread in modern life, appearing anywhere from governmental buildings to mansions. Depictions of Greek gods on pottery told a story in ancient times, but in modern times, the gods depicted on these works have changed meaning and evolved to fit modern