Hellenistic Art Quiz 03/20/2025

Alexandria

city in Egypt founded by alexander in 331 BCE, two harbors , town on a grid plan, intellectual haven!

Siwa Oasia

the site of Zeus Ammon's oracle, where Alexander visited and was told he was the son of Zeus Ammon and would conquer the world and egypt

Deinokrates

designed Alexandria, skilled architect (also designed the Pyre of Hephaestion)

Mouseion

literallly "The Muse Place". massive manuscript library in Alexandria founded by the Ptolemies. A center of learning and scholarship, a haven for intellectuals and poets! Located in the "royal quarter". burned down

Sema (Soma)

the mausoleum of Alexandre the Great, locared in Alexandria. Tomb has never been found but is shrouded in myth and legend

Thmuis

city in lower Egypt (the top part). Most famous artifact from this place is the Alexandria Mosaic, depicting the wide eyed personification of the city herself

Alexandria Mosaic

ca. 3rd-2nd c. BCE from Thmuis, Graeco-Roman Museum, Alexandria. made by Sophilos (signed at the top left). some opus vermiculatum around the eyes. ship on head, evil eye on boat, wide eyes, venus rings, very colorful. Another version also exists from Thmuis, so this seems to have been a fairly recognizable/ maybe common depiction of Alexandria

Ptolemy I Soter (304-285 BCE)

The first of the Ptolemaic dynasty, one of the Diadochoi who became ruler of the Egyptian kingdom. married to Berenike I. Hijacked alexanders body and buried it in Memphis. Depictions of Ptolemy I show wide, bulging eyes, big hooked nose, attachable beard option.

Berenike I

wife of Ptolemy I Soter, appears alongside him on coinage (along w their married children on the other side). She is depicted w the melon hairstyle and venus rings on neck.

Ptolemy II Philadelphos (285-246 BCE)

son of Ptolemy I and Berenike, married and ruled w his sister Arsinoe II. Both depicted in a very ptolemeic way, w venus rings/bulging neck and big eyes

Adelphon Theion

"sibling gods", used to refer to Ptolemy II and Arsinoe II

Arsinoe I

Ptolemy II Philadelphos's first wife and the daughter of Lysimachos. Mother of Ptolemy III. Exiled.

Arsionoe II

Sister wife of Ptolemy II Philadelphos. Had a crazy life! Was married to Lysimachos (yes, Arsinoe I's dad). They had some kids, but left when he died in battle. Married her half brother, Ptolemy Lightning Bearer, but left him bc he tried t kill her kids. THEN married Ptolemy II and coruled Egypt w him. Beloved by her subjects, was said to be so beautiful, was worshipped as a goddess after she died.

Faience "Queens Vase"

ca. 280-270 BCE, from Alexandria, London, British Museum, inscribed w Arsinoe II's name and "Agathes tuches Arsinoes Philadelphou" (good fortune of Arsinoe Philadelphos)

Sostratos of Knidos

the architect behind the lighthouse of Alexandria, 3rd c. BCE. Lighthouse (and the island it was on) called "The Pharos". built a kickass building that was 400 ft tall, w fire and mirrors to reflect light. spiral staircases, base with rooms, cult of Isis at the base. lighthouse depicted on coins!

Demetrios of Phaleron

guy who helped found the Library of Alexandria, may have been the head librarian. an exiled athenian statesman and a philosopher/writer.

Kallimachos (Callimachus)

Hellenistic poet who worked and learned at the Mouseion in ALexandria. flipped the script on Greek poetry! Prolific guy! active in the 3rd c. BCE

Apollonios of Rhodes

poet and librarian active in mid 3rd century, author of epic poem the "Argonautika"

Theokritos

Worked and studied at the Mouseion. the father of pastoral poetry and the bucolic diaeresis.

sfumato

Italian for "smoky", technique used to blend details to look more realistic. softens lines!

Berenike II (246-221 BCE)

married to Ptolemy III. her portraiture is very typical of the Ptolemies, showing her w the melon hairstyle, wide eyes, venus rings. She does have a loch of hair hanging down from her face that ALMOST resembles a horn

Coma Berenices

Berenike's interesting hair loch that curls down towards her hair, perhaps to mimic the horns of Zeus Ammon and refer back to Alexander portraiture? Some say that she cut off all of her hair and donated it to the gods as a votive offering. poems have been written about it!

Ptolemy III Euergetes (246-222 BCE)

son of Ptolemy II and Arsinoe I. Married to Berenike II. Founded a temple of Serapis in Alexandria. Depicted w thick neck, wears jewelry that looks almost like a pectoral. His name means "The Benefactor". Tutored by Apollonius o Rhodes.

Serapis/ Serapeion

The combination of Osiris and Apis, but also takes on attributes from Hades and Zeus. Long hair, corkscrew curls, curly beard. Basket on his head indicates his control over grain, connection to fertility. Ptolemy III builds him a temple in ALexandria. This syncretism of Egyptian and Greek gods was intended to unify the kingdom

Serapis Statue

3rd c. BCE og, Roman copy, Alexandria, Graeco-Roman museum. probably a work by Bryaxis. Grain basket on head emphasizes fertility, death.

Osiris and Apis

They come together to joint slay as Serapis. One is the God of the underworld the other is a bull god.

Bryaxis

sculptor creited w the creation of colossal Serapis cult statue from 3rd c. BCE.

Ptolemy IV Philopator (221-204 BCE)

son of Ptolemy III Euergetes and Berenike II, married to sister Arsinoe III. "Father Lover". portraits not hughly individualized, very Ptolemaic looking. attatchable beard holes

Arsinoe III (220-204 BCE)

sister wife of Ptolemy IV Philopater. depicted w Venus rings on neck.

Apotheosis

the elevation to divine status. we see this in a marble stele that depicts the apotheosis of Homer, seen w his "children" the Iliad and the Odyssey

Archelaos of Priene

artist who created the Homer marble stele, signed his name on inscription.

Homereion

the cult worship of Homer

Sardonyx

difficult to carve stone, mixture of sard and onyx. black/brown stone marbled w lighter brown/red. See the Tazza Farnese

Tazza Farnese

sardonyx cameo carving, Museuo Archaeologico Nazionale di Napoli, unknown date, 20 cm in diameter. likely Ptolemaic given their love of gem carving. Depicts Greco-Egyptian scene featuring the Nile personified, Isis (note the knotted garment between breasts), Triptolemus, sphinx, and the seasons (??). Empty cornucopia, Triptolemus looks like a Gaul. Holds a rope stick thing.

Triptolemus

Eleusinian prince, Demeter taught him all the agricultural secrets. worshipped as an important agricultural god. Notably, this guy on the Farnese cup looks like a Gaul!

Ptolemy VI (186-145 BCE)

Philomater. His depictions are very Greco-Egyptian, in particular a gold ring that depicts him in profile, shoulders facing front like a pharaoh. wears the double crown of Egypt, but with ribbons hanging down in Greek crown style.very Alexandrian in form. Large eyes, small mouth, venus rings (??)

Cleopatra VII (61-30 BCE)

THE Cleopatra that we know about. Not super hot, but very learned. She and Mark Antony on coins.

Samothrace

Arsinoeion

Seleukids

Seleukos I Nikator (321-281 BCE)

Syria

Antiochos I (281-261 BCE)

Antioch

Antiochos III "The Great" (223-187 BCE)

Antiochos IV Epiphanes (175-163 BCE)

Olympieion

Cossustius

Corinthian