Art - GreekReporter.com (original) (raw)
El Greco: The Greek Painter Who Changed the Art World
Philip Chrysopoulos - October 1, 2024
El Greco is one of the best known artists in the entire history of Western art, as his works have influenced painters over the centuries.
The Kritios Boy, a Masterpiece of Ancient Greek Art
Tasos Kokkinidis - September 29, 2024
The Kritios Boy, a statue displayed at the Acropolis Museum is one of the most important works of ancient Greek art and the most characteristic of the so-called "Severe Style." The statue’s torso was found in 1865 to 1866 southeast...
History of Mermaids and Their Origins in Ancient Greek Sirens
Anna Wichmann - September 25, 2024
Mermaids, folkloric creatures with the head and upper body of a woman and lower body of a fish, appear in many cultures across the world. Many have traced the contemporary conception of a mermaid to the ancient Greek figure...
Louvre Museum to Open Byzantine and Greek Orthodox Art Section
Philip Chrysopoulos - September 21, 2024
The Louvre Museum (Musée du Louvre) in Paris is to open a new department of Byzantine and Eastern Christian Art in 2027. A delegation headed by Louvre Director Laurence des Cars arrived in Athens on Thursday to present the new...
Why Greek Statues Have Small Penises: Woman’s Lecture Goes Viral
Tasos Kokkinidis - September 17, 2024
Many ancient Greek statues depict male figures with what we might today consider to be small penises. This is quite intentional and reflects the different cultural values of the period. A woman's explanation of why ancient Greek statues have small...
The Moment Statue of Ancient God Helios Was Unearthed in Athens
Tasos Kokkinidis - September 7, 2024
A magnificent marble bust of Helios, the ancient Greek sun god, that was unearthed at the ancient Agora of Athens in 1970 is one of the most spectacular exhibits of the Ancient Agora Museum. Helios was said to drive his...
Cleopatra’s Needle: the Truth Behind the Misleading Name
Thanos Matanis - September 7, 2024
"Cleopatra’s Needle" evokes the romanticism of the famous Egyptian queen. However, like some click-bate title from the 19th century, these obelisks have no connection to Cleopatra VII. In fact, these monuments predate her by over a thousand years. How...
Derveni Krater: A Masterpiece of Metalwork in Ancient Greece
Tasos Kokkinidis - September 5, 2024
The Derveni Krater exhibited at the Archeological Museum of Thessaloniki is one of the most elaborate metal vessels from ancient Greece yet discovered. Found in 1962 in an undisturbed Macedonian tomb of the late 4th century B.C. at Derveni not...
When Society’s Outsiders Became the Inspiration for Greek Art
Thanos Matanis - September 3, 2024
The Hellenistic period significantly departed from the Classical ideals of beauty and perfection that had previously dominated Greek art. Instead of focusing on the idealized forms of gods, athletes, and heroes, Hellenistic artists found inspiration in the most marginal...
How Nike of Samothrace Inspired the Rolls-Royce Emblem
Thanos Matanis - August 31, 2024
The Spirit of Ecstasy, the iconic ornament atop every Rolls-Royce, has roots in ancient Greek art. The emblem's journey from the shores of Samothrace to the luxury car's grille highlights the enduring influence of classical beauty on modern design. Nike...
Greek or Biblical Hero? The Secret Duality of Michelangelo’s David
Thanos Matanis - August 22, 2024
Michelangelo's David is a towering figure in art history. Yet this masterpiece embodies an underlying tension between established tradition and newfound knowledge. David represents both a humble biblical shepherd boy who became a king, and a Greek hero. This...
Divine Dinners in Ancient Greek and Christian Traditions
Thanos Matanis - August 2, 2024
The recent Olympics controversy surrounding the Feast of the Gods and the Last Supper has renewed interest in divine dinners. These celestial suppers symbolize divine intervention, covenant-making, and the intertwining of gods with the mortals. Despite their vast differences...
Why Buddhism Adopted a Greek Art Style
Thanos Matanis - July 30, 2024
Buddhism encountered a fascinating fusion with Greek culture in ancient times after Alexander the Great's conquests. This intersection is vividly illustrated in Gandharan art, which prominently features a style reminiscent of classical types. Why did this Eastern religion adopt...
Emblematic Modern Sculpture of Alexander the Great Took 30 Years to Complete
Paula Tsoni - July 27, 2024
Yannis Pappas' emblematic sculpture of Alexander the Great on horseback, which took 30 years to complete, is highlighted at a unique exhibition in Nafplion this summer.
The Story of the Indo-Greek King Who Embraced Buddhism
Thanos Matanis - July 25, 2024
The original Milindapañha or The Questions of Milinda (100 BC and 200 AD), now lost, was probably written in Sanskrit or Prakrit in Northern India. It was preserved in Ceylon and later translated into Pāli. The text recounts the Socratic-like dialogue between...