#ancient greece

@shiningjasmin

Precise geometric pattern on a rams-head: terracotta pot.
East Greece, 6th BC.

Currently preserved at the Met Museum, New York.

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Temple of ancient Greece at an archaeological site in Syria.
V century BC.

@shiningjasmin

Attic kylix with black figures.
From Cerveteri, Italy.
530 BC.

National Museum of Villa Giulia, Rome, Italy.

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Black-figured kylix.
Attic, found in Rhodes.
575-550 BC.

British Museum.

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Stunning 2nd century BC pebble mosaic of a triton.

Archaeological Museum of Rhodes, Greece.

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The “Cup bearer”, fresco from Knossos.
2000 BC.

Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, Crete, Greece.

Athens, Greece. 

Alcmene:

A mortal woman who is best known as the mother of Hercules/Herakles. This Argolid queen had the misfortune to attract Zeus’s attention. Alcmene was reknowned for her devotion to her husband, so the father of the gods assumed his form to seduce her. She only discovered the deception when her husband returned the following night.

Hera, angry at Zeus, once more took it out on the mortal woman. She sent Illythia, goddess of childbirth, to delay the birth. This ensured that another child fulfilled the prophecy that Zeus’s child would rule all around him. It also caused Alcmene to suffer during an extended birth. The charm was broken by Alcmene’s maid Galanthis, who was punished by being transformed into a weasel.

This commission is part of a series featuring the mothers of Greek mythological heroes. If you’d like to buy prints, they are available at my etsy store, linked in the header of this Tumblr.

Danae: 

This is another mythical woman who simply did not deserve any of this. Her father received a prophecy that he would have no male heirs and would be killed by his daughter’s son. His response was to put Danae into a bronze chamber underground (some sources say a tower) with only a skylight. In theory, this would prevent her from ever having a child.

Zeus promptly visited Danae in the form of a shower of gold, and she became pregnant with the hero Perseus. After she gave birth, her father put both Danae and her son into a wooden clothes chest and set it afloat on the sea. The two survived only because Poseidon calmed the sea at Zeus’s behest. They made landfall on the island of Seriphos, where they took refuge.

This commission is part of a series featuring the mothers of Greek heroes. If you’d like prints, they’re available through the Etsy shop linked in my header!

Hephaestus, Greek god of blacksmiths and craftsmen

Reposting an old one on request!

Metis:

This Greek goddess is an Oceanid, daughter of Oceanus and Tethys, as well as one of the Titan generation. She was the first wife of Zeus, but when she became pregnant, Zeus feared that her children would overthrow him. He tricked her into becoming a fly or a mouse and swallowed her whole. According to Hesiod, Metis gave birth to Athena while inside her husband, and crafted armor and weapons for her daughter there. The hammering so distressed Zeus that he begged Hephaestus to split open his head with an axe, and Athena sprang out.

In the earlier period, Metis was the goddess of wise cunning, and possessed a trickster aspect. Later, she became the goddess of wise counsel and craftsmanship.

Prints of this commissioned image are available at: https://www.etsy.com/listing/513137687/metis-goddess-of-craft-85x11-open

ancient greece immortals (WIP)

A silver stater coin of ancient Greece, specifically from Thebes (405-395 BCE). It depicts a striking head of Dyonisus in beautiful detail, as well as a Boeotian shield on the obverse.The Boeotian shield was a lesser known cousin of the usual round, heavy hoplon we see a hoplite carry in Greek vases. Not much is known of how they were used but they are believed to be a smaller and more agile version of the dypilon, a huge ancient Mycaenean full body shield where the cuts on the sides were used to stab through with the spear.

VISIT ancient Greece with WHE! 

Join our archaeologist-led tour in the footsteps of Greek Myths for only $3,445 / £2,455 on 3-11 October 2022! 

Find out more here: https://www.worldhistory.travel

2seeitall:

Marble throne chairs at the ancient theater of Oropos (Amphiareion archaeological site), Attica, Greece  

lionofchaeronea:

Ancient Greek ivory appliqué (probably originally part of a furniture decoration) depicting a satyr, wearing a deerskin around his neck and carrying a club to mimic Heracles.  Artist unknown; 2nd cent. BCE.  Found on Sicily; now in the Walters Art Museum, Baltimore.  Photo credit: Walters Art Museum.

tombadge:

Athens – July 2017

Yessss!

Klepto & Mania finally corrupted Phobia! All their hard work’s paid off!

Note: This is a flashback. Nobody’s dead-naming Pepsia.