CL150 - Art Test

Quiz 1

Thespis

is considered the first actor in ancient Greek theater, credited with introducing dialogue and stepping away from the chorus.

Dionysus

The Greek god of wine, theater, and fertility; tragedies were originally choral songs (dithyrambs) performed in his honor.

Satyr

A creature that is part man and part goat, often associated with Dionysian revelry and fertility, and typically featured in plays as comic figures.

Goat Song

The literal translation of the Greek word tragoidia (tragedy), likely referring to the goat skins worn by performers or the goat given as a prize.

Aristotle

A Greek philosopher who defined the essential elements of tragedy and the tragic hero in his work, Poetics.

Hamartia

Often called a "fatal flaw," it is defined by Aristotle as a mistake, error in judgment, or "missing the mark" that leads to a hero's downfall.

Catharsis

The "purgation" or cleansing of the audience’s emotions of pity and fear through the experience of the tragedy.

Peripeteia

A sudden reversal of fortune or a pivot point in the plot where the protagonist's circumstances change from good to bad.

Anagnorisis

The moment of "recognition" or discovery where the protagonist moves from ignorance to knowledge regarding their true situation.

Theatron

The "viewing place" where the audience sat in an ancient Greek theater.

Orchestra

The "dancing place"—the circular area at the center of the theater where the chorus performed.

Skene

The building behind the orchestra that served as a backdrop, dressing room, and storage for props.

Deus ex machina

"God from the machine"; a crane used to lower actors playing gods onto the stage to resolve a difficult plot.

Ekkyklema

A wheeled platform rolled out from the skene to reveal off-stage events, typically the aftermath of violence or death.

Prometheus etymology

His name translates to "Forethought" (pro = before; metheus = thinker), representing his wisdom and ability to plan.

Epimetheus etymology

His name translates to "Afterthought" (epi = after; metheus = thinker), representing one who acts impulsively and thinks later.

Titans

An elder generation of gods who ruled before the Olympians; Prometheus was a Titan who helped Zeus win the war against his own kind.

Themis

An ancient Titan goddess of divine law and mother of Prometheus; she provided him with the prophetic knowledge that saved Zeus.

Iconography etymology

Derived from eikon (image/likeness) and graphia (writing/description); the visual language used to describe a subject.

 Iconography definition

The traditional or conventional images and symbols associated with a subject and the study of those symbols in art.

Ouroboros

An ancient symbol of a serpent eating its own tail, symbolizing eternal cycles and the self-sustaining nature of the universe.

Pandora

The "first woman," created by Zeus as a "beautiful evil" to punish humanity and Epimetheus after Prometheus stole fire. She opened a jar that released all evils into the world.

Oceanid

The daughters of Oceanus who form the chorus in Prometheus Bound and express deep compassion for Prometheus.

Freedom Riders

civil rights activists of various races who challenged segregation on buses; helped register Black voters.

 Io etymology & identity

Exclamation of sorrow. Daughter of Inachus. Jupiter/Zeus attempts to seduce her (name-dropping) but she runs and he rapes her. He rapes her in the form of a cloud.

Argus panoptes

The hundred-eyed giant sent by Hera to guard Io; his epithet "Panoptes" means "all-seeing."

 Peacock aetiology

An origin story (aetiology) explaining that Hera placed the eyes of the dead giant Argus onto the tail of her sacred bird, the peacock.

Epaphos

The son of Io and Zeus, born in Egypt; he is a key figure in the prophecy that Prometheus's eventual liberator will be one of his descendants.

Isis

major ancient Egyptian goddess of magic, motherhood, fertility, and healing. Some traditions say Io became Isis, others that Io simply was saved by Isis.

Atlas

The brother of Prometheus who was punished by Zeus to hold up the heavens on his shoulders forever.

Thetis

A sea goddess whom Zeus desired; Prometheus alone knew the secret that any son she bore would be more powerful than his father.

Cheiron

A wise, immortal Centaur who ultimately agrees to die to end his own eternal suffering from a poisoned wound.

Moirai

The three personifications of Fate in Greek mythology who control the thread of every mortal's life.

Clotho

One of the fates: he “spins the thread”

Lachesis

one of the fates: he “measures the thread”

Atropos

one of the fates: he “cuts the thread”

Norns

The Scandinavian/Norse equivalent of the Greek Fates, who also weave the destiny of men and gods.

Parcae etymologies

The Roman name for the Fates, derived from the Latin parere (to bring forth/bear), originally associated with birth.

Ananke

the personification of "Necessity" or "Inescapable Fate"

Nyx

the primordial goddess of "Night" and the mother of the Fates.

Moiragetes

An epithet of Zeus (Zeus Moiragetes) meaning "Guide of the Fates," indicating he leads or is aligned with destiny.

Plague of Athens

A real historical epidemic (430 BCE) that decimated Athens.

Paean

A hymn or chant of prayer and praise, specifically to Apollo, often seeking healing or protection from a plague.

Thebes

The Greek city-state setting of Oedipus Rex, where Oedipus is king and where the ancestral curse on the royal house unfolds.

Semele

A Theban princess and mother of Dionysus who was destroyed by the glory of Zeus

Pentheus

A King of Thebes (cousin of Oedipus) who was torn apart for refusing to acknowledge the divinity of Dionysus.

Chrysippus

The young son of King Pelops; he is abducted and raped by Lains. This sparks the curse known as the incurring curse of Pelops

Delphi

A premier ancient greek religious sanctuary considered to be the center of the world

Tyche

The Greek word for "Chance" or "Fortune"

Techne

rational skill, applied intelligence

Theos

Power of the Divine

Tiresias

a blind prophet of Thebes, famous for ability to see truth about future; Oedipus calls to find out who killed king.

Loxias

a nickname for Apollo, ambiguous

 Audience Superior Position

when the audience of a narrative work know more than the characters

 Oedipus etymology

Oideo - I swell, Pocus - foot, “swollen foot”

Riddle of the Sphinx

“What being has sometimes 2 feet, sometimes 3, sometimes 4, and is weakest when it has the most” Oedipus says “Man” and Sphinx destroys herself

Croesus

fabulously wealthy and powerful Median king; consults oracle art Delphi on decision to go to war against Persia.

Solon

an athenian statesman who lays the foundation of democracy

Hero Cult

A religious practice in Ancient Greece where a deceased mortal (usually a hero) would be worshipped at their tomb or their shrine. Often thought to possess the power to secure the protection for their local community.

Colonus

A deme (suburb) of Athens as well as the birthplace of Sophocles. It is the setting of the play “Oedipus at Colonus” where Oedipus seeks sanctuary and eventually is buried.

Eumenides

It means “The Kindly Ones.” This is the name for the Furies after they have been appeased.

Etymology of Antigone

“anti-” (against) and “-gone” (womb, or offspring). Interpreted as “against birth"

Etymology of Ismene

From “isme” (knowledge). Her name suggests one who is knowledgeable or wise.

Etymology of Eteocles

“eteos” (true), “kleos” (glory). The name means “truly glorious”

Etymology of Polymices

“poly-” (much), “neikos” (strife, quarrel). His name means “man of many quarrels”

Etymology of Creon

Formed from the greek word “Ruler” or “Prince”

Etymology of Theseus

Derived from the root “the-” from tithemi (to set/place). His name means “He who sets things in order”

Peloponnesian War

A war between Athens and Sparta. It reflects the growing tensions in the Greek world.

Suppliant Drama

A genre of greek tragedy where a haracter seeks protection from a more powerful figure at an altar or site.

Laocoon Group

A sculpture depicting the Trojan priest Laocoon and his sons being attacked by sea serpents. Illustrates extreme physical agony in art.

Tetralogy

A group of four plays (three tragedies and one satyr play) submitted by a playwright for the City Dionysia festival.

Eurydice

The wife of Creon and the mother of Haemon. She dies by suicide after learning about her son’s death.

Haemon

The son of Creon and Eurydice, and the fiancee of Antigone. His name is linked to Haima (blood).

Teiresias

The blind prophet of Thebes who warns Creon that his refusal to bury Polynices will bring divine wrath.

Polis

The Greek City-state. It represents the sphere of public law, politics, and the state.

Oikos

The greek word for “household” or “family.” It represents the sphere of private tradition, family loyalty, and religious duty.

Hegel

The philosopher who interpreted Antigone as a tragic collision between the right of the state (polis) and the right of the family (Oikos).

Argos

The city-state that supported Polynices in his attempt to take Thebes from his brother Eteocles.

Adrastus

The King of Argos and the leader of the “Seven against Thebes” that aimed to restore Polynices to the throne of Thebes.

Male Gaze

The tendency for visual arts to depict the world and women from a masculine and heterosexual point of view.

Academic Style

A formal, traditional style of art that follows strict rules of the French Academy.

Romantic Style

An artistic style of art that emphasizes emotion, nature, and the sublime, often using more dramatic lighting and movement.

Maschalismos

Cutting off the hands and feet of a corpse and sticking them in the armpits, to prevent the ghost of the deceased from seeking revenge.

Biaiothanatoi

Those who died by violence. It was believed that these souls could not find peace and remained near their bodies.

Aoroi

Those who died prematurely, or “before their time.”

Agamoi

Those who died before they married. Since they did not fulfill the ritual of getting married, they are often viewed as “married to death.”

Ataphoi

The unburied. This was a great dishonor and prevented the soul from entering the underworld.

Greek burial rites

The process necessary for the soul’s transition into the afterlife, consisting of prothesis, ekphora, and the final burial.

Prothesis

The “laying out” of the body at the home, where family members would wash and dress the deceased.

Ekphora

The funeral procession; the “carrying out” of the body from the home to the place of burial.

Cremation

The practice of burning the deceased on a pyre, often seen in heroic contexts.

Inhumation

The practice of burying the body in the earth.

Sema

A grave marker or a sign that identifies a burial site and preserves the memory of the deceased.

Heraclitus

A philosopher who was famous for his quote, “The people should fight for their law as for their city wall”