THE CLASSICAL WORLD AND OTHER CULTURES

Choose a modern version of an ancient myth or historical event For example: Battle of Hector and Achilles } MOVIE: OR The abduction of Helen } “Troy” or “Helen of Troy” OR The fall of Troy (from the } Trojan horse onwards) } Perseus’ rescue of Andromeda } “Clash of the Titans” Perseus and Medusa} “Percy Jackson” or “The Story Teller” Odysseus and Circe } “The Odyssey” Battle of Thermopylae } “300” Reign of emperor Commodus } “Gladiator”

CHOOSE YOUR PRIMARY EVIDENCE For excellence you must provide THREE copies of primary evidence. You may use TWO vases and ONE other resource eg literary source or mosaic, or poem. Revisit your instruction sheet (page 2, Task 1 AND page 4, “Using a range of primary evidence…”) to make sure you know exactly what is expected of you. Make sure you choose appropriate resources. For example:  choose resources that you can write a lot about  your reproductions or text must be clear and readable  they must be relevant to your story  they were produced in ancient times (ie before 400AD) The blinding of Polyphemus 1 st century AD

WHAT IS RELEVANT PRIMARY EVIDENCE? Vase paintings, wall paintings, sculptures, coins, literary passages, mosaics and other archaeological finds eg swords, shields etc Make sure they date back to ancient times ie before 400AD. For example: Statue of Heracles By Glykon 3 rd Century BC Odysseus blinds the Cyclops 520 BC Perseus & Andromeda Pompeii wall painting 1 st century AD

WRONG primary evidence Odysseus in Troy, Pompeii, 1 st century AD What is wrong with this resource?

Odysseus and Polyphemus, Oil painting, Arnold Böcklin, 1896 WRONG primary evidence What is wrong with this?

WRONG primary evidence Why?

Sculpture by Canova Created for Napoleon Bonaparte

HOW TO PRESENT YOUR PRIMARY EVIDENCE 1.Cut and paste each resource on a new page and give it a relevant title. 2.Then, present a fact file. 3.And finally, proceed to analyse it in detail and with perception (ie show insight into and real understanding of the classical world). Odysseus blinds Polyphemus Fact File: Attic Black Figure Hydria 520BC

HOW TO analyse a visual PRIMARY source This figure shows the Cyclops Polyphemus. On this vase he is depicted in a reclining position perhaps because this fits the shape of the vase. His giant size is in sharp contrast to the size of Odysseus and his men; this reflects the fact that he is a Cyclops whereas Odysseus and his men are humans. The painter has painted the Cyclops with shaggy hair and beard to highlight his savage nature whereas Odysseus and his men are well-groomed to show they are civilised. Even though Polyphemus is meant to be asleep, he holds a drinking cup; this relates to the part of the story where Odysseus tricked him into drinking wine so he would fall asleep. This is very significant as it shows how Odysseus used cunning to overcome the Cyclops etc etc What would you write about Odysseus and his men?

HOW TO analyse a literary source “Their master, tormented by agonies of pain, felt the backs of the sheep as they passed him, but foolishly failed to see my men tied under the rams’ bellies. My ram went last, burdened by the weight of his fleece, and me and my teeming thoughts.” The word “master” refers to the Cyclops Polyphemus who is “tormented by agonies of pain” because he has been blinded by Odysseus and his men. With this statement Odysseus mocks the Cyclops because he does not realise that Odysseus and his men are escaping Under the bellies of his own sheep. Most importantly, this shows how Odysseus has out-smarted the Cyclops and as a result of his cunning plan, he and his men are now able to escape from the Cyclops’ cave. In addition, this statement shows Odysseus’ resourcefulness as he uses the Cyclops’ own sheep to make his escape. What does this tells us about Odysseus?