An alternative ending to the Iliad reads "and then an Amazon came...". Achilles will fall in love with that Amazon—Penthesileia. Hector had married Andromache, who has an Amazonian name. And Herakles and Theseus fought Amazons. In this Gallery we will look at visual representations of Amazons. Read more
The subject of the birth of Aphrodite or Venus has always been a favorite in artwork. Since the goddess represents desire and physical attraction, and given the way the female form has often been objectified and sexualized, it is perhaps not surprising she has often depicted nude, but there are also modern examples of how her birth might be represented visually in a way that does not objectify women. Read more
I am starting to look back at some photos that I took during the six weeks I spent in Europe, just before the confinement. During several days, the Louvre was closed, because of the pandemic, but not the Louvre Collection in the Inventory of the Department of Prints and Drawings. This amazing place is open to the general public. You just have to send an email in advance to show… Read more
The themes depicted in the myth of the fall of Troy inspired ancient Greek tragedies, such as the Trojan Women of Euripides, and writers and dramatists of later periods. The subject has also been depicted in the visual arts. This gallery presents a selection of these artworks, including paintings, and ancient Greek vases. Read more
I highly recommend that you make your way to the Onassis Cultural Center in New York, which is running an exhibit called “A World of Emotion: Ancient Greece 700BC–200AD,” through June 24, 2017. It brings together works of high art and emotion, such as the full-sized statue of Eros stringing his bow, as well as everyday items such as defixioi (curse tablets)—lead sheets with imprecations written on them, pierced by… Read more
