ionic frieze of the Siphnian treasury, Metopes of Temple C, Selinus, temple of Apollo at Bassae frieze

name and date

ionic frieze of siphnian treasury, 525BC

height?

0.64m high

length of the east side?

6.2m

length of the north side?

8.6m

what is the story of the North Frieze?

gigantomachy as the Gods and Giants fight over mount olympus

what is the story of the east frieze?

two scenes from the war:

-seated Olympian gods debate

-duel between Achilles and Memnon

what period?

late archaic period

paint and labelling?

-polychromy used

-inscribed names by individual giants, gods, and heroes

archaic features of the north frieze?

-repeated patterns of the lions mane

-archaic smiles on a giant and Artemis

-impossible neck twist

-chunky legs

other features of the north frieze?

-patterns on the shield

-multiple planes

-dead giant

archaic features of the east frieze?

-long beaded hair

-rigid action arms

-impossible neck twist

-archaic smile on Apollo

-chunky legs

-groove lines on legs

-repeated seat horizontals

-various drapery patterns

non typical archiac features:

asymmetric action arms, seated pose of Ares

what does the west frieze depict?

judgement of Paris

what does the south frieze depict?

an abduction scene

in what ways is the gigantomachy dramatic and exciting?

-lion chariot

-lion mauling a giant

-dead giant below the multiple planes

-giant running away

-Apollo and Artemis firing on a packed troop of giants

why are the gods seated?

-maintains unity of scale

-relatable scene (an assembly debating)

-combo of seats and seated figures fulls awkward space well

-targets tired visitors to sanctuary at Delphi, who want to sit down

how do the seated gods contrast with the Trojan war scene?

-violent mortals vs sedate immortals

-divine assemblies often occur prior to mortal conflict in Homer

-the gods are a partisan audience for the mortal competition

in what ways has the frieze been designed to target its viewers?

-polychromy makes it stand out

-as visitors walk up the sacred way at Delphi, they marched with gods within the gigantomachy

-relatable anthropomorphic behaviour

-the god of sanctuary, Apollo, included within the frieze

-inscribed names aid the audience with stories

what does Neer say about this frieze?

"instead of standing in shallow recess, figures seem to project from the background"

material

parian marble

Date?

575-550 BC

Made of?

Limestone

Narrative

Herakles catches the Kerklopes trying to steal his weapons. He holds them by their legs and they're laughing at his hairy bum

Theme

Civilisation conquers Barbarism

Composition

Harsh horizontal lines on the upper half of the pediment, with Herakles holding Kerklopes legs

Strong vertical lines that fill the pediment - aesthetically pleasing and symmetrical

Herakles leg diagonal / triangular shape, fills the space of the bottom of the pediment

Herakles

- Beaded hair

- Muscles are on his body (such as his legs), however not really clear

- Face and torso are frontal, however unrealistic torso twist at the waist which are profile. Unrealistic

Kerklopes

- Symmetrical on each side

- Beaded hair

- Archaic smile

- Almond eyes

- No individualisation

- Unrealistic as face and torso are frontal, but the twist at the waist is unnatural as legs goes fully profile

name and date

temple of apollo frieze (bassae), 420BC

how many slabs make up the frieze?

23

how long is the frieze?

31m

what height?

0.63 high

what did the dim lighting create?

chiaroscuro

what is the east frieze?

-amazonomachy (with a scene involving Herakles)

what is the other theme?

centauromachy (with a scene involving Apollo and Artemis)

what ways does it communicate drama and movement?

-motion lines

-transparency

-chiastic poses

-dead and dying figures

-violent actions (biting and stabbing)

what ways is it decorous and fitting to the Temple of Apollo at Bassae?

-Apollo in the Centauromachy

-fighting and rough nature of centaurs similar to local mecernaries

-wind blown drapery fitting for the exposed site of Temple of Apollo on Arcadian hill-side

yes it's original and imaginative;

-position inside the cella

-chiastic poses of fighting figures

no it isn't original and imaginative;

-two myths seen before (parthenon metopes)

-motion lines and transparency to communicate movement (parthenon)

-rearing horses to fit narrow strip (parthenon)

-Apollo and Artemis fighting (Siphnian)

what is unusual about the position of the frieze?

-positioned inside the cella

-wouldn't have recieved direct sunlight