2. ATHENA AND MARSYAS

3. FACTS: Artist: Myron Date: c 450 BCE Location: Acropolis
Material: original bronze (lost), Roman copies marble
Size: Athene 1.73m, Marsyas 1.59m

4. SUBJECT MATTER SPOT the ATHENA
The Commonality Key: What is common between these images of Athena?
The mourning Athena
c450BC.
Athena (from Marsyas group)
c450BC
Bust of Athena. c430–420 BC
Athena Lemnia (reconstruction) c BC

5. SUBJECT MATTER THE MYTH – a story about a flute
Who’s Who?
Athena: the goddess of Wisdom
Apollo: the god of music and drama (among other things)
Marsyas: a Satyr
The Muses: 9 goddesses who inspire different arts
What’s What?
Aulos: a double flute
Hubris: having excessive pride
Lyre: a harp like instrument
Satyr: a half-goat, half-man creature
Flayed alive: skin being pulled off while still alive

6. SUBJECT MATTER THE MYTH – a story about a flute
Follow the story of Athena and Marsyas using the images on your handout. Next to each image describe in a couple of sentences what is happening in each scene.

7. SUBJECT MATTER THE MYTH – a story about a flute
This vase depicts:
Athena playing her aulos
Marsyas looking like he wants to grab the flute
A youth holding a mirror up to Athena
A god (presumably Zeus) reclining
An older Satyr
A random woman
ATHENA & MARSYAS - attribution details
Museum Collection: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Style: Apulian Red Figure Shape: Bell krater Painter: Boston Painter
Date: ca BC Period: Classical
TASK:
on your handout – work out who is who

9. SUBJECT MATTER THE MYTH – a story about a flute
What is depicted in this scene?
How does it connect with the previous image?

10. SUBJECT MATTER THE MYTH – the contest and the prize
Apollo watching and waiting his turn
Marsyas playing the Aulos
Two Muses, judges of the contest, frame the figures. One is holding a scroll the other Apollo’s Lyre.
Fact File:
Museum Collection: Musée du Louvre, Paris, France  Shape: Krater, Bell Painter: Attributed to the Pothos Painter Date:  Early Classical

11. SUBJECT MATTER THE MYTH – the crime and the punishment
This is a common depiction of Marsyas – showing him hanging from a tree about to be flayed alive.
Why did Apollo choose such a brutal punishment for Marsyas?
FACT FILE: Marsyas Museum, Istanbul, Turkey Date: 2nd century AD Period: Hellenistic - Roman Imperial

12. WHERE WAS THE SCULPTURE FOUND?
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
WHERE WAS THE SCULPTURE FOUND?
What message were the Athenians trying to communicate by placing this sculpture on the Acropolis?

13. HISTORICAL CONTEXT RENAISSANCE ART
Sister Wendy
As you watch the video think about why renaissance artists (in the 15-16th Centuries) would have often depicted this story. at
Titian – the flaying of Marsyas c1575

14. HISTORICAL CONTEXT RENAISSANCE ART
Francesco Granacci. Athena and Marsyas. c. 1500
Pietro Perugino, Apollo and Marsyas. 1495
Raphael. Apollo and Marsyas
Bartolomeo Manfredi, Apollo and Marysas
Apollo and Marsyas
José de Ribera
Oil on canvas, 17th century
Apollo flaying Marsyas, Jacob Jordaens, c1625

15. SUBJECT MATTER IN MEDIAS RES:
This is a latin term that literally means in the middle of something – in this sculpture it refers to the story/narrative.
Questions to consider:
1. What occurs immediately before and after this scene?
2. How is the sculpture ‘in medias res’?
3. Why do you think Myron chose to sculpt this scene ‘in medias res’?
NOTE: when we read the Odyssey look for this to happen. The story starts in the middle then goes back into the past.

16. STYLISTIC FEATURES POSE/MOVEMENT - Athena
Head turned to the left, in profile, tilted down – looking at Aulos
Right arm outstretched
probably holding a spear
Left arm probably outstretched in warning to Marsyas
Torso fully frontal
Right leg straight and bearing the weight
Left knee bent and pointing towards the right
Key Questions – what is the movement that this pose portrays?
What ‘moment in time’ has been captured?

17. STYLISTIC FEATURES POSE/MOVEMENT - Marsyas
Right arm raised above his head.
Left arm moves down and away from the body
Firm, well defined muscular torso
Left leg is bearing most of the weight and is twisted with a bend in the knee.
Right leg is extended in front of the body with a slight bend at the knee
Heels were raised slightly off the ground -
From this pose – what is the next logical movement for Marsyas?

18. STYLISTIC FEATURES RYTHMOS
Rhythmos:
Derived from dance. Refers to the momentary pauses during a dance where dancers would hold a position. A well-chosen rythmos could convey the entire movement .
Remember back to the ‘moment in time’ captured by Diskobolos. Rhythmos also applies to this sculpture.
Questions to consider:
1. What is the ‘moment in time’ (Rhythmos) that Myron has captured in this scene?
2. What other moments in the story could Myron have chosen to depict?

19. STYLISTIC FEATURES DRAPERY - Athena
Belt tied over fold of the Peplos at waist reveals the shape of the body underneath
V folds at neckline – crease folds flow down to belt.
Fabric pulls over left knee and flows gracefully with the movement of her leg.
Verticle, deep folds resemble flutes on a column.
Nice touch of realism with hem kicked up by the left heel.

20. STYLISTIC FEATURES HEAD AND FACE - Marsyas
Quick Task:
Pull a face at your neighbour…
Write down carefully what happens to each of their facial features.
Furrowed brow – drawn together causing creases in forehead
Wide eyes
Hair and Beard:
Long flowing moustache and beard. Very natural lines and wisps in hair.
Flared nostrils
Wide mouth – with unnatural downturn of mouth

21. STYLISTIC FEATURES COMPOSITION – connection between figures
HOW IS A CONNECTION ESTABLISHED BETWEEN THE TWO FIGURES?
The Aulos is central and both Athena and Marsyas are looking at it.
There is a ‘V’ shaped symmetry formed by the poses of both figures – both are leaning away from each other.

22. Comparison – Marsyas and Diskobolos
STYLISTIC ANALYSIS
Comparison – Marsyas and Diskobolos
Compare:
Face
Hair
Musculature
Pose