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Greek Mythology in Art

The characters of Greek mythology still intrigue the imagination with their fantastic exploits and adventures. They have been immortalized by the written word and by their depiction in various forms of art through the ages.
  1. Paintings and Sculpture

    • Relief sculpture is found on the Frieze of the Parthenon.

      Much of the art that involves Greek mythological stories and personas is found in the form of paintings and sculptures. One of the earliest sculpture types is relief sculpture, an example of which can be found on the Frieze of the Parthenon in Greece. Pottery was the medium for many paintings, both in red and black figures.

    Greek Gods

    • Poseidon is the god of the sea.

      Dionysos, the god of wine and revelry, was sculpted by Praxiteles in a work called "Hermes and the Infant Dionysos." Now housed in the Archaeological Museum of Olympia in Olympia, Greece, the statue was discovered in 1877 in the Temple of Hera. A sculpture of Poseidon, god of the sea, can be found on the Frieze of the Parthenon.

    Greek Goddesses

    • Artemis is also known as the roman Diana in this work entitled "Diana of the Chase"

      Aphrodite, the beautiful goddess of love and mother of Eros, is captured in many paintings. "The Birth of Aphrodite" was painted by Botticelli during the Renaissance. Diana, the goddess of the hunt, is found in the sculpture "Diana of Gabii" by Praxiteles and in the painting "Diana and Her Nymphs Surprised by Fauns" by Reubens.

    Tip

    • To appreciate the volume of art influenced by Greek Mythology, remember that Greek gods and goddesses had Roman counterparts. Often the artwork is named after the Roman characters. Knowing the Roman counterparts to the Greek characters will help in discovering Greek mythology in art.

Fine Art

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