Part 1
Resource 1: Video
Resource 2: Please read the following post from the Ian Jenkins of the British Museum: The Shock of the Nude
Resource 3: Please read the excerpt from the Iliad (attached)
Homer’s epic The Iliad offers incredible insights into many aspects of ancient Greek culture, from their understanding of deities, to virtuous behavior, to attitudes towards the afterlife.
1). Carefully read the excerpt from Book 16 of The Iliad. What surprises you most about Homer’s writing? Did you find the text interesting? Dramatic? Violent? Select a line that you found compelling and discuss why you chose it!
2) Focus on the Death of Sarpedon Krater. Using your best skills at “ekphrasis”, describe what you see in this image.
3) How is the text by Homer reflected in the imagery of the Death of Sarpedon Krater? How does the imagery represent the narrative as told by Homer? How does the image differ from the textual account (if at all)? YOU MUST CITE DIRECTLY FROM THE ILLIAD TO RECEIVE CREDIT.
4) Read the blog post from the British Museum. According to the author, Ian Jenkins, what is the cultural significance of nudity (particularly male nudity) in Ancient Greece? Finally, using the example of the Riace Warrior from your textbook (image 2), describe some features of the sculpture that are “idealized” and some that are “naturalistic”. For full credit, use the term contrapposto!!
Part 2
Resource 1: Video
Resource 2: Reading – The Parthenon (attached)
Resource 3: Reading – Wait, Why Are the Parthenon Marbles in London?
First watch the video on the Parthenon. Be attentive to the section around 4:00.
(1) What was the Pan Athenaic Procession and what is its relationship to the decorative program of the Parthenon? BE SPECIFIC
Next let’s address the actual architecture of the building (starts around 7:30).
(2) What are some of the innovations the architects of the Parthenon introduced? What were the Athenians trying to express with this architecture?
Turn to your outside reading “The Parthenon”.
(3) Select one of the works of art from the essay and describe how it relates to the building.
(4) Finally, turn your attention to the second reading “Wait, Why Are the Parthenon Marbles in London?” Who was Lord Elgin? How was he able to acquire the Parthenon marbles? What did the acquisition of the sculpture’s represent to England in the early 1800’s?
