So let’s learn the history of Persephone and the pomegranate. But for the purpose of this post, the intersection of mythology and art in Ancient Greece takes the centre stage. They both listen as a third judge, Rhadymanthos, gestures imperiously.How has a simple, yet beautiful fruit, been the center of attention throughout history? The pomegranate is symbolic in many cultures and religions, not just art in Ancient Greece. Triptolemos, in elaborate drapery, is seated with an eagle-topped staff, while Aiakos stands beside him. They appear on this vase on the right of the palace, and inscriptions give their names. Hades and Persephone were the principal rulers in the Underworld, but there were other figures who served as arbitrators of disputes among the dead. The story of a young girl disappearing underground and emerging each year is reminiscent of plants that wither and die only to re-emerge in the spring, and is deeply connected with ancient Greek beliefs about the seasons, fertility, birth, death, and marriage-all of which will warrant another blog post. This meant that she would always have to spend a third of the year down below. Though she found her in the end, crafty Hades ensured that Persephone had taken a bite from a pomegranate whilst she had been amongst the dead. ![]() Demeter, Persephone’s mother, was understandably distraught, and spent months searching for her daughter. Hades seized Persephone to be his bride and brought her down to rule with him in the Underworld. National Archaeological Museum of Naples – Conservation and Restoration Laboratory By permission of the Italian Ministry of Heritage and Culture and Tourism. ![]() Also known as Plouton and Kore (the name “Hades” can be used for both the god and the place), they enjoy food and drink together as they sit in an imposing temple-like structure, with elegant figures serving as columnar supports. To begin, though, here’s a quick guide to who’s who in the Underworld as depicted on the vase.įront and center, we have the king and queen, Hades and Persephone. We’ll learn just how extensively as our work proceeds, and in the coming months we will keep you updated with further blog posts and videos. It was found in fragments, so even as we begin our studies, we know that it was heavily restored in the nineteenth century. Rich burials in the region almost always included a large volute krater (you may recall the trio presented in our Dangerous Perfection exhibition), but this is a particularly grand example, measuring 1.60 meters in height. The krater was discovered by 1848 in the area of Altamura, in southeast Italy. Both of those projects resulted in exhibitions, and we intend to put the vase on view once the conservation work has been completed. Regular Getty-watchers will remember the statue of Apollo from Pompeii, or the monumental Tiberius from Herculaneum. The vase is on loan from the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli, and is the latest in a series of fruitful conservation projects that we’ve undertaken with our colleagues in Naples. ![]() (Note: The fabric at the base is a temporary measure to guarantee stability during transport.) National Archaeological Museum of Naples – Conservation and Restoration Laboratory. National Archaeological Museum of Naples, 81666. Colossal Krater from Altamura, about 350 B.C., Greek, made in Apulia, South Italy.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |