Heroes: Mortals and Myths in Ancient Greece
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Roman. Herakles as a Youth. Copy after Hellenistic original. Marble. H. 64 cm (25.2 in.). Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Antikensammlung; Bildarchiv Preussischer Kulterbesitz/Art Resources, NY. Photo credit: Johannes Laurentius. |
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| Roman. Medallion with Bust of Alexander the Great (ca. 218-235 A.D.). Probably struck in Macedonia. Diam.: 5.4 cm (2.1 in.). Walters Art Museum. |
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| Roman. Head of Polyphemus (1st or 2nd Century A.D.). Thasian marble. H. 38.3 cm (15.1 in.). Photograph © 2009 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. |
By STAN PARCHIN
August 6, 2009
Beginning in antiquity, the idea of the hero played an important role in many cultures. The traveling exhibition Heroes: Mortals and Myths in Ancient Greece debuts at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland (October 11, 2009-January 3, 2010). It examines the evolution, worship and interpretation of protagonists in Greek mythology. More than 100 bronzes, examples of jewelry, statues, relief sculptures and vases, on loan from the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and other institutions, join works from the Walters for this international loan presentation.
The exhibition is divided into three sections. Heroes in Myth describes the triumphs and pitfalls of Achilles, Herakles, Odysseus and Helen, chronicling their lives, parentage, birth, education, marriages and death. An interactive feature allows visitors to compare their personalities with those of eight Greek heroes, gods and monstrous adversaries.
Heroes in Cult explores their worship after death through sacrifices for the fulfillment of prayers. The gallery displays an oversized reconstruction of a heroic shrine, replete with typical offerings. Color images of actual ritual sites provide historical context.
Hero as Role Model explains how warriors and athletes were admired in classical Greek society while also focusing on musicians and women.
Medallion with Bust of Alexander the Great
The observe of an ancient gold medallion in the Walters Art Museum shows the youthful Alexander the Great (r. 336-332 B.C.) wearing a cuirass decorated with an image of Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom. The warrior's chest armor is emblazoned with a scene from the mythological Gigantomachy (Battle of the Giants). Images of Gaia (Earth) and five zodiacal signs are emblazoned on the Macedonian conqueror's shield. They represent his determination to rule the universe. The Roman Emperor Caracalla (r. 212-217 A.D.) and his Severan successors identified their rule with the grandeur of Alexander's legacy and perhaps were responsible for the production of this work.
After the Walters Art Museum, "Heroes: Mortals and Myths in Ancient Greece" travels to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Nashville, Tennessee (January 29-April 25, 2010), the San Diego Museum of Art, California (May 22-September 5, 2010) and the Onassis Cultural Center, New York (October 5, 2010-January 3, 2011).
Sources
Pandermalis, Dimitrios, et al. Alexander the Great: Treasures from an Epic Era of Hellenism (ext. cat.). New York: Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation (USA), 2004, 33.
Yalouris, Nicholas, et al. The Search for Alexander (exh. cat.). Boston: New York Graphic Society, 1980, 103.
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