Module 3
Eleusis Amphora (Proto-Attic neck amphora), 675-650 B.C.E., terracotta, 142.3 cm high (Eleusis Archeological Museum, Greece)
https://smarthistory.org/eleusis-amphora/
In the Eleusis Sanctuary (a town in Attika, Greece) there is a giant pot that was found with a ten-year-old boy's body inside. The styling of the amphora is way before it’s time. We had just left the geometric phase where pottery was filled with patterns of shapes but before the style of Attic Black Figure was regularized. This unusual pot was the first to be found with the largest figures ever found on a Greek pot. This ancient pot tells not only one, but two myths: Perseus slaying Medusa and Odysseus blinding the cyclops. Both myths we are looking at here have to do with sight. At the neck of the vase, tells the story of how Odysseus is on his way home from the Trojan war. He’s come to an island occupied by 1 eyed giants otherwise known as cyclops. He brings his men into a cave for protection not realizing there was a cyclops inside named Polyphemus. When Polyphemus comes back to his cave he rolls a huge boulder to close the door only then noticing he has guests. He continues to eat several of Ulysses’ men for dinner and several more the next morning. Odysseus then offers the giant some of his wine. As he’s getting drunk Odysseus is sharpening his staff which he later plunges into the eye of the sleeping cyclops. When Polyphemus goes to roll the boulder from the mouth of the cave to let his sheep out, Odysseus and his men tie themselves to their bellies that way they wouldn’t be felt when Polyphemus was feeling for them. The men successfully made it out of the cave. Now the other story is on the body of the vase; on the extreme left side we see the now headless body of the Gorgon Medusa, who has been beheaded by the hero Perseus. The image shown is the result of a task given by a king. Without looking her in the eye, he uses the reflection of his shield and cuts off her head in that way. We see 3 of Medusa's sisters chasing after Perseus while trying to protect him is Athena. This is the story known to be on the vase. I'm not entirely sure why this would be a funerary vessel for a child. Frankly I think the child was either killed and shoved in there or went in there to hide and never ended up coming out.
Steven Zucker and Beth Harris, "Eleusis Amphora," in Smarthistory, March 13, 2016, accessed September 16, 2021, https://smarthistory.org/eleusis-amphora/
You did a great job explaining the historical background of this piece and explaining the stories depicted on it. I wonder why the artist chose those two stories and why stories about sight and did it relate to the boy inside. One thing I would suggest is try to improve your paraphrasing a little more, I followed the link and watched the video and it was very similar to the video.
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ReplyDeleteThis was a very good description of the art. I found it interesting how there was more than one story depicted on it. I also find it very interesting how both the stories have to deal with sight. I wonder what the intent was behind this, and if it had any significance to the body found inside of the pot.
You didi a great job explaining in detail about the origins about the pot as well as the back history. i find it so neat how many stories are being told on this one pot. the artist really had a talent. i've heard these stories before but i find it cool that there's a pot that tells the stories to
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