Athletes Warriors and Heroes at Wardown Park Museum All Images Copyright The British Museum
Greek Gallery This presentation aims to give a small overview of some of the objects on display at the Ancient Greek exhibition at Wardown Park Museum. All images are copyright The British Museum.
Glossary Red-figure pottery painting, is one of the most important styles of figural Greek vase painting. It developed in Athens around 530 BC and remained in use until the late 3rd century BC. It replaced the previously dominant style of Black-figure pottery painting, also known as the black-figure style or blackfigure ceramic is one of the foremost techniques and styles for adorning antique Greek vases. It was especially common between the 7th and 5th centuries BC, although there are specimens dating as late as the 2nd century BC. Relief, a sculpture that gives the impression that the sculpted material has been raised above the background. Demi-God, meaning "half god", is used to describe mythological figures whose one parent was a god and whose other parent was human. Herakles, a divine hero in Greek mythology, the son of Zeus and Alcmene, foster son of Amphitryon, and great-grandson (and half-brother) of Perseus Amphora, a two-handled vase used for storage and transport.
Athletics The Ancient Greeks were fanatical about sport and every city state held at least one major sporting event. Sporting competitions were held in honour of the gods, who were thought to grant athletic talent. The most famous were the Olympic Games. Sporting competitions were for men only. Women could not watch or compete. An important aspect of the games for the Greeks was the search for bodily perfection. This can be seen in the sculptures and drawings of the vases which show perfectly formed athletes. Today, sport is enjoyed by men, women and children of all levels of fitness. People take part for a variety of reasons, not solely to win. However the way you look while playing is still important to many people, as demonstrated by sales of sports clothing and equipment.
Amphora - Athlete This black-figured amphora shows two athletes training, both are wearing gauntlets around their waists. To the right stands an athlete who has been given a 'buy' to the next round. The other side shows Athene, the goddess of War and strength, who was also worshipped as the goddess of Athens, and celebrated at the Panathenaic Games.
Sculpted Head - Athlete Marble head of the so-called Diadoumenos, probably a Roman version of the famous bronze by the Greek sculptor Polykleitos. The athlete wears a fillet (victor's ribbon) in his hair which compresses the curls around the temples. The hair and features have a hard quality that is reminiscent of cold working in bronze. The right side of the face is wellpreserved, but the left is weathered.
Chous - Athlete Red-figured chous (vase), with trefoil mouth. This vase shows two athletes either training or talking to each other watched by a spectator.
Heroes One of the most famous heroes of Ancient Greek myth is Herakles. Today he is commonly referred to as Hercules. The super strength he needed to complete his twelve tasks came from his father Zeus, the King of the gods. Herakles can be seen as a model for modern heroes such as Spiderman or Superman. However these modern heroes are motivated by a desire to make the world a better place. Herakles completes his twelve tasks to make amends for killing his wife and children during a bout of madness caused by an angry goddess. Gods and goddess help or hinder him as he completes his tasks.
Amphora - Hero This vase shows Herakles fighting the ogre Geryon. Herakles is wearing the skin of the lion he killed in his first task, this gave him magical protection. Geryon has three heads, six arms and six legs. He is holding three shields and pointing three spears at Herakles. The other man in the picture is Geryon's shepherd who has been killed in the fight.
Amphora - Hero This red-figure vase shows a battle between the hero Achilles and the Amazon Penthesileia. The Amazons were a mythical race of female warriors. Woman in Ancient Greece were not expected to be soldiers.
Bowl - Hero This pottery vessel show two war scenes. On one side is a story from a myth in which Perseus, Hermes and Athene are being chased by snake-haired monsters called Gorgons. On the other is a scene showing a procession of five Ancient Greek warriors.
Votive Relief - Hero This scene shows two young men on horseback. British Museum experts think they could be the twin halfbrothers of Herakles, Caster and Pollox. The story in which they are changed into stars features in both in Greek and Roman mythology. The stars of Gemini are named after them.
Warriors The Ancient Greek world was made up of independent city states. Their struggles for land and resources led to many wars. These factors still lie behind most wars today. All city states expected their male citizens between the ages of 18 and 40 to fight in time of war. Sparta was the exception to this pattern. There the state was run as an army, with the focus of all aspects of daily life on preparing for conflict. There was no formal army, but on reaching 18 young men received two years military training. Men had to provide their own armour and weapons. This was another way to display wealth. In all the states of the Ancient Greek world sport and war were closely linked. Sporting competitions like the Olympics were an extension of military training to build stamina and strength.
Amphora - Warrior Black-figured Panathenaic amphora. A man riding a quadriga (4 horse chariot). The charioteer, stands leaning forward with reins in both hands and a goad (cattle prod) in his left. He wears a long white chiton (loose fitting tunic) with black girdle.
Greaves - Warrior Pair of bronze greaves, decorated with a palmette pattern. Greaves were worn to protect the lower leg. Not all soldiers wore them. What do you think they would have felt like to wear?
Helmet - Warrior Bronze helmet with a double line around the edge; a small part of the back is missing.
Marble Stele with Pediment, Greek. c. 375 350 BC Found / Acquired in Attica, Greece This marble Stele is identified by the inscription as being of the family of a man named Epichares. Epichares stands between his wife and daughter, who are holding hands. The daughter is standing to the left; her name is recorded as being Aristeis. The wife of Epichares is seated to the right, unfortunately her name has been lost. This is the largest object in the exhibition