Greek Art History

Greek Architecture 3

This house is located in a court off Troy Del Way in Williamsville, NY. It features the classical Greek columns as on the parthanon. These columns, though, are in the Ionic order. This is indicated by the swirling capital at the top of the column. These column are fluted, indicated by the lines running the length of them. This house does not have a pediment more metopes.

Greek Architecture 2

This house is located right on Troy Del Way in Williamsville, NY. Some of the classical features include the Greek columns and pediment. Taking a closer look at the columns, we see that the capitals on top are pretty simple in design. This indicates that they are from the Doric order. These columns are not fluted and there is no metope. The triangular piece on top is the pediment.

Greek Architecture 1

This house, built with classical features, is located off Troy Del Way in Williamsville, NY. The four columns across the front are inspired by Greek architecture. These columns have acanthus details on the capitol. This indicates that the columns are in the Corinthian order. It does not feature any pediment or metopes, but the columns are also fluted, another classical feature.

Heracles

Heracles was the greek hero, son of Zeus and Alcmene. He is an icon for masculinity. Most commonly known for his extraordinary strength, Heracles is also known for his courage and sexuality. He is often pictured fighting a lion or wearing a lion skin and holding a club. Hera, Zeus's wife, hates Heracles and he often has to deal with her vengence.

Heracles is best known for the story The Twelve Labours of Heracles. In the story, Hera drives Heracles mad, and in a fit of rage, he kills his family and friends. When he calms down, he is greatly regrets his actions and calls to Apollo to fix his wrongs. Apollo gives Heracles 12 labours to complete. The labours were:

1. Kill the lion of Nemea. He strangled it without further ado.

2. Kill the nine-headed Hydra. Two new heads would grow on the Hydra from each fresh wound, and one was immortal. Heracles burned the eight and put the immortal one under a rock.

3. Capture the Ceryneian Hind. After running after it for many months, he finally trapped it.

4. Kill the wild boar of Erymanthus. A wild battle, but pretty straightforward: Heracles won.

5. Clean the Augean Stables of King Augeas. He succeeded only by diverting a nearby river to wash the muck away.

6. Kill the carnivorous birds of Stymphalis.

7. Capture the wild bull of Crete.

8. Capture the man-eating mares of Diomedes.

9. Obtain the girdle of Hippolyta, the queen of the Amazons (not all that easy, actually).

10. Capture the oxen of Geryon.

11. Take the golden apples from the garden of the Hesperides, which was always guarded by the dragon Ladon. Heracles tricked Atlas into getting he apples by offering to hold the Earth for Atlas. When he returned with the apples, Heracles asked him to take the Earth for a moment so he could go get a pillow for his aching shoulders. Atlas did so, and Heracles left with his apples.

12. Bring Cerberus, the three-headed dog of Hades, to the surface world.

Heracles returned to Thebes and married Deianira. Later, he shot the centaur Nessus with a poisoned arrow. Deianira salvaged Nessus' blood with the promise it would preserve Heracles' love. She sent him a garment soaked in the blood and it killed him. He was taken to Olympus where he was endowed with immortality.

Heracles is often seen extremely muscular and with a beard. He wasn't known for his intelligence, although there was a few times he used wit when his strength wouldn't suffice. He is probably one of the most popular heros from Greek Mythology, more commonly known as Hercules.

Works Cited:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heracles

http://www.pantheon.org/articles/h/heracles.html

http://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Heroes/Heracles/heracles.html

Hermes

Hermes was the Greek Messenger God, and herald of Zeus. His most common attributes are his winged shoes and winged helmet. He was known to be very fast. He also carries staff with him called a caduceus. This was what he used to cure/prevent people of diseases and injuries. This is also the symbol for the American Medical Association.

Hermes was also noted as the protector of commerce, trade, and wealth. Businesses aimed to please him in order to prosper. Basically, everything associated with making a living was associated with him, including animals, travel, and persuasive speech. He also serves as guide to the Underworld.

Hermes is typically seen with his winged hat and heels along with his caduceus. Being a messenger required him to move fast, and so sometimes he even sprouted wings on his back. His body is athletic as is typical for the Gods (He was also known to help injured athletes.) He is also commonly pictured with a goat or rooster, oftentimes appearing relatively young. In literature, he is mentioned as being attractive with golden locks of hair.