Artemision Bronze
The Artemision Bronze (often called the God from the Sea) is an ancient Greek sculpture that was recovered from the sea off Cape Artemision, in northern Euboea (Modern Greek Εύβοια, Évia). It represents either Zeus[1] or Poseidon,[2] slightly over lifesize,[3] brandishing a missing thunderbolt (if Zeus) or trident (if Poseidon) with his raised right hand and sighting over his extended left hand.
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[edit] The sculpture's subject
The debate over whether the statue represents Poseidon or Zeus hinges on the lost attribute held in the right hand. As Caroline Houser writes, "Sometimes the Artemision protector is called 'Poseidon'. Those who would do so have been known to argue that the image must be that of the great sea god since the statue was found in the Mediterranean. But like other statues of totally different subjects, this one went into the sea simply because it was on board a ship that sank. Others cite the example of the Poseidonia coins, overlooking the much weightier evidence presented by the numerous surviving statuettes of Zeus launching his thunderbolt in a pose matching that of the Artemision figure."[4] A major additional problem with that hypothesis is that a trident would obscure the face, especially from the profile view, which most scholars (even those who have supported an identification as Poseidon) have held to be the most, or even the only, important view. Iconographic parallels with coins and vase painting from the same time show that this obscuring pose is extremely unlikely. However, the trident may have been unusually short, avoiding the problem. On the other hand, the statue is essentially a larger version of an extensive series of smaller solid bronze figurines extending back into the late 7th century, all of which strike the same pose and represent Zeus.[5] On the basis of this and other iconographic parallels with vase-painting,[6] most scholars presently think it is a Zeus. However, opinion remains divided.
The god is caught at the moment of pause in the full potentiality of his coming movement, described by Carol Mattusch: "the figure has the potential for violence, is concentrating, poised to throw, but the action is just beginning, and we are left to contemplate the coming demonstration of strength."[7] It is an original work of great strength in the Severe style that preceded the fifth-century classical style, dated to ca. 460 BCE. A comparison can be made with the Charioteer of Delphi, a roughly contemporaneous bronze.
[edit] Sculptor
Discussions concerning its provenance have found champions for most of the Greek mainland centers technically capable of such a large-scale sculpture: Attica— where Christos Karouzos[8] associates it with Kalamis (about 470-440 BCE)— Boeotia, Aegina, Sicyon or Argos.[9] The sculpture has also been associated with Onatas[10] or Myron.[11] The Poseidon/Zeus is a highlight of the collections in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens.[12]
[edit] History
The sculpture was discovered in 1926[13] and further excavated in 1928, at the site of a shipwreck that occurred no earlier than the middle of the second century BCE. Unfortunately, not much is known about the wreck because exploration was abandoned when a diver died, in 1928, and was never resumed. Many such shipwrecks are of Roman date and were of vessels 'exporting' Greek art to Italy, but it is unclear whether the Artemision wreck is one of these.
The empty eye-sockets were originally inset, probably with bone, as well as the eyebrows (with silver), the lips, and the nipples (with copper).
[edit] In modern culture
The sculpture's head, now an icon of Hellenic culture, formed the subject of a Greek postage stamp.
Frank Miller's graphic novel, 300, depicts King Leonidas of Sparta as having an uncanny resemblance to the ancient work. Likewise, the cinematic rendition of 300, starring Gerard Butler, is still very much aware of the iconic work.
A similar statue in marble, of greater proportions, was used for the 2010 film Clash of the Titans, with Zeus holding a lighting bolt.
A full-sized replica (with cod piece) existed in the Adventurers Club at Downtown Disney on Pleasure Island in Disney World. The statue was depicted with a fishing rod and was occasionally dressed up for holidays.[14]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Identified as Zeus in, e.g. John Boardman, "Greek art and architecture", in J. Boardman, J. Griffin and O. Murray, eds. Greece and the Hellenistic World (Oxford History of the Classical World, vol. I), 1988, illus. p. 284.
- ^ The loosely held fingers of the right hand have been variously interpreted as suited for wielding a separately-cast thunderbolt or a separate trident. A cogent summary of technical and iconographic arguments for Zeus was presented by George E. Mylonas, "The Bronze Statue from Artemision", American Journal of Archaeology 48.2 (April 1944), pp. 143-160.
- ^ 2.09 meters.
- ^ Houser in Greek Monumental Bronze Sculpture, Houser, C., and Finn, D. 1983. New York: The Vendome Press. p. 79.
- ^ E.g., the so-called Dodona Zeus
- ^ Such as this vase in France, in which Poseidon holds his trident below, so as to avoid obscuring the face, while Zeus adopts the same pose as the Artemision bronze.
- ^ Mattusch 1988:151f.
- ^ Karouzos, "Ho Poseidon tou Artemisiou" Deltion 13 (1930-31) pp 41-104, and "The find from the sea off Artemision", Journal of the Hellenic Society 49 (1929).
- ^ Gisela M.A. Richter, reviewing H. G. Beyen, La Statue d'Artemision in American Journal of Archaeology 35.2 (April 1931), pp. 242-243; C. A. Robinson, Jr., "The Zeus Ithomatas of Ageladas", American Journal of Archaeology 49.2 (April 1945, pp. 121-127) p. 127, note 40.
- ^ By Lullies and Hirmer.
- ^ By V. Poulsen, in Acta Archaeologica, 11 (1940) pp 41-42.
- ^ Inv. no. 15161.
- ^ Only the left arm was found in 1926. First reported to the scholarly community by Oekonomos, in Praktika of the Academy of Athens 1928, pp 750ff.
- ^ God with Rod
[edit] References
- F. Noack in Die Antike 5 (1929), pp
- Mylonas in American Journal of Archeology 48 (1944) pp 143ff. A case for the subject as Zeus.
- Mattusch, Carol C. 1988. Greek Bronze Statuary: From the Beginnings Through the Fifth Century B.C. (Ithaca:Cornell University Press) The Artemision god is discussed pp. 150–53.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: God of Cape Artemision |
- Franz Gnaedinger, "Poseidon from Cape Artemision: The Geometry of a Greek Masterwork"
- National Archaeological Museum of Athens: highlights
- Illustration of the complete sculpture
