ATHENA AND MARSYAS

FACTS: Artist: Myron Date: c 450 BCE Location: Acropolis Material: original bronze (lost), Roman copies marble Size: Athene 1.73m, Marsyas 1.59m

SUBJECT MATTER SPOT the ATHENA The Commonality Key: What is common between these images of Athena? The mourning Athena c450BC. Athena (from Marsyas group) c450BC Bust of Athena. c430–420 BC Athena Lemnia (reconstruction) c450-440BC

SUBJECT MATTER THE MYTH – a story about a flute Who’s Who? Athena: the goddess of Wisdom Apollo: the god of music and drama (among other things) Marsyas: a Satyr The Muses: 9 goddesses who inspire different arts What’s What? Aulos: a double flute Hubris: having excessive pride Lyre: a harp like instrument Satyr: a half-goat, half-man creature Flayed alive: skin being pulled off while still alive

SUBJECT MATTER THE MYTH – a story about a flute Follow the story of Athena and Marsyas using the images on your handout. Next to each image describe in a couple of sentences what is happening in each scene.

SUBJECT MATTER THE MYTH – a story about a flute This vase depicts: Athena playing her aulos Marsyas looking like he wants to grab the flute A youth holding a mirror up to Athena A god (presumably Zeus) reclining An older Satyr A random woman ATHENA & MARSYAS - attribution details Museum Collection: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Style: Apulian Red Figure Shape: Bell krater Painter: Boston Painter Date: ca 370 - 360 BC Period: Classical TASK: on your handout – work out who is who

SUBJECT MATTER THE MYTH – a story about a flute What is depicted in this scene? How does it connect with the previous image?

SUBJECT MATTER THE MYTH – the contest and the prize Apollo watching and waiting his turn Marsyas playing the Aulos Two Muses, judges of the contest, frame the figures. One is holding a scroll the other Apollo’s Lyre. Fact File: Museum Collection: Musée du Louvre, Paris, France  Shape: Krater, Bell Painter: Attributed to the Pothos Painter Date:  Early Classical

SUBJECT MATTER THE MYTH – the crime and the punishment This is a common depiction of Marsyas – showing him hanging from a tree about to be flayed alive. Why did Apollo choose such a brutal punishment for Marsyas? FACT FILE: Marsyas Museum, Istanbul, Turkey Date: 2nd century AD Period: Hellenistic - Roman Imperial

WHERE WAS THE SCULPTURE FOUND? HISTORICAL CONTEXT WHERE WAS THE SCULPTURE FOUND? What message were the Athenians trying to communicate by placing this sculpture on the Acropolis?

HISTORICAL CONTEXT RENAISSANCE ART Sister Wendy As you watch the video think about why renaissance artists (in the 15-16th Centuries) would have often depicted this story. at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR1GkQy3nvA Titian – the flaying of Marsyas c1575

HISTORICAL CONTEXT RENAISSANCE ART Francesco Granacci. Athena and Marsyas. c. 1500 Pietro Perugino, Apollo and Marsyas. 1495 Raphael. Apollo and Marsyas. 1509-1511 Bartolomeo Manfredi, Apollo and Marysas. 1616-1620 Apollo and Marsyas José de Ribera Oil on canvas, 17th century Apollo flaying Marsyas, Jacob Jordaens, c1625

SUBJECT MATTER IN MEDIAS RES: This is a latin term that literally means in the middle of something – in this sculpture it refers to the story/narrative. Questions to consider: 1. What occurs immediately before and after this scene? 2. How is the sculpture ‘in medias res’? 3. Why do you think Myron chose to sculpt this scene ‘in medias res’? NOTE: when we read the Odyssey look for this to happen. The story starts in the middle then goes back into the past.

STYLISTIC FEATURES POSE/MOVEMENT - Athena Head turned to the left, in profile, tilted down – looking at Aulos Right arm outstretched probably holding a spear Left arm probably outstretched in warning to Marsyas Torso fully frontal Right leg straight and bearing the weight Left knee bent and pointing towards the right Key Questions – what is the movement that this pose portrays? What ‘moment in time’ has been captured?

STYLISTIC FEATURES POSE/MOVEMENT - Marsyas Right arm raised above his head. Left arm moves down and away from the body Firm, well defined muscular torso Left leg is bearing most of the weight and is twisted with a bend in the knee. Right leg is extended in front of the body with a slight bend at the knee Heels were raised slightly off the ground - From this pose – what is the next logical movement for Marsyas?

STYLISTIC FEATURES RYTHMOS Rhythmos: Derived from dance. Refers to the momentary pauses during a dance where dancers would hold a position. A well-chosen rythmos could convey the entire movement . Remember back to the ‘moment in time’ captured by Diskobolos. Rhythmos also applies to this sculpture. Questions to consider: 1. What is the ‘moment in time’ (Rhythmos) that Myron has captured in this scene? 2. What other moments in the story could Myron have chosen to depict?

STYLISTIC FEATURES DRAPERY - Athena Belt tied over fold of the Peplos at waist reveals the shape of the body underneath V folds at neckline – crease folds flow down to belt. Fabric pulls over left knee and flows gracefully with the movement of her leg. Verticle, deep folds resemble flutes on a column. Nice touch of realism with hem kicked up by the left heel.

STYLISTIC FEATURES HEAD AND FACE - Marsyas Quick Task: Pull a face at your neighbour… Write down carefully what happens to each of their facial features. Furrowed brow – drawn together causing creases in forehead Wide eyes Hair and Beard: Long flowing moustache and beard. Very natural lines and wisps in hair. Flared nostrils Wide mouth – with unnatural downturn of mouth

STYLISTIC FEATURES COMPOSITION – connection between figures HOW IS A CONNECTION ESTABLISHED BETWEEN THE TWO FIGURES? The Aulos is central and both Athena and Marsyas are looking at it. There is a ‘V’ shaped symmetry formed by the poses of both figures – both are leaning away from each other.

Comparison – Marsyas and Diskobolos STYLISTIC ANALYSIS Comparison – Marsyas and Diskobolos Compare: Face Hair Musculature Pose