Special Exhibitions
Magna Graecia
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Special Exhibitions |
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Magna Graecia |
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Magna Graecia: Greek Art From South Italy and Sicily
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Exhibition Highlights
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Herakles and Alkyoneus Metope (about 560-550 BC)
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Herakles and Alkyoneus Metope (about 560-550 BC) This large block of sandstone is an architectural element consisting of two parts: a triglyph (tri-"glif) and a metope (meh-tow-'pee). The triglyph is the portion with three carved vertical elements, and the metope is the flat area containing relief sculpture. These elements run horizontally above the columns and below the roofline of a temple.This large block comes from a temple dedicated to the goddess Hera, consort of Zeus, which was located near the Sele River in Paestum (ancient Posidonia). Both Strabo and Pliny tell of the legend of Jason and the Argonauts landing near the Sele River and founding a temple to Hera, their protectress on their nautical journey to recover the golden fleece. The temple from where this architectural element comes was bound up with that mythical tradition. The scene is of the hero Herakles (son of Zeus and a mortal woman) slaying the giant Alcyoneus (al-see-o-'nee-us) in the battle against the giants who rose up and tried to overthrow the gods. The artist has masterfully contained the two figures within the metope. The giant, larger than the hero, is slain by a sword thrust into the back. Herakles steadies himself and subdues Alkyoneus with a foot on the back of the giant's knee, grabbing a bunch of his hair. Dramatic and violent, had this metope adorned a temple in Greece proper, it would likely have been made of marble. As marble was not readily available in Magna Graecia, materials such as sandstone and limestone were used as alternatives. Page 6 of 23 | On the next page: Enthroned Female Statuette |
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