In the port of which country is there a statue of Poseidon? Statues of Greek Gods - world sculptural heritage

Poseidon from Cape Sounion, bronze statue

The bronze statue was found in the sea off Cape Artemisium (Euboea) in 1928. Second quarter of the 5th century BC. e. - one of most interesting periods in the development of Greek art. This is a time of intense search, a time when sculpture masters master the techniques of realistic depiction human body, will know expressive possibilities moving figure. In active movement it reveals internal state person.

A true masterpiece greek sculpture- a bronze statue of the god Poseidon created in this era, which was discovered at the bottom of the sea, near Cape Artemision. The naked god of the sea with the body of a mighty athlete is presented as he throws his trident at his opponent. The majestic sweep of his arms and the elastic, strong step convey the imperious impulse of an angry god. With great skill the sculptor showed live game tense muscles. Sliding reflections of chiaroscuro on the greenish-golden surface of bronze emphasize the strong sculpting of the forms. The two-meter figure of Poseidon amazes the eye with its impeccable beauty of silhouette. The inspired face of God seems to be the embodiment of the mighty sea element; strings of water seem to run down his hair and beard.

The Poseidon statue is a fine example high art bronze. In the 5th century BC. e. bronze became the favorite material of sculptors, since its hammered forms conveyed especially well the beauty and perfection of the proportions of the human body. Two major sculptors of the 5th century BC worked in bronze. e. - Myron and Polykleitos. Their statues, glorified in ancient times, have not survived to this day. They can be judged by marble copies made by Roman craftsmen five hundred years after the creation of the originals, in the 1st-11th centuries AD. e.

Most tourists vacationing in Athens try not to miss the opportunity to take an interesting trip by car, which in Greece can be quite easily rented, or by excursion bus, to the legendary Cape Sounion. This cape is located in the southern part of Attica and is famous for the fact that it contains the ruins of the once majestic Temple Poseidon. Sounion has always been inhabited by fishermen, who, going out into the Aegean Sea, were never left without a catch. How could it be otherwise, since the ruler of the sea Poseidon himself was merciful to them, whose temple was built on a high rock right by the sea.

IN currently the road from Athens to Cape Sounion, thanks to the developed infrastructure of tourism and entertainment in Greece, allows the traveler not only to enjoy the picturesque views, but also to take a break along the way on one of the magnificent greek beaches. Along the road you can often find various restaurants and bars: these are not just roadside eateries, any of them offers guests all the splendor of the sunny country national cuisine. End point paths - Cape Sounion and, of course, the amazingly large ruins of the Temple of Poseidon.

To Greek sculptors, like everyone else ancient artists, the theme of the sea was never alien, since temples of Poseidon were located not only in many coastal cities of Hellas, but even inland (for example, in Arcadia and Boeotia). And every temple or sanctuary in ancient Greece, as you know, was decorated with a statue of a god or hero, for whose worship it was built. The temples of the sea lord were no exception. And although sculptural images, standing in his sanctuaries, not so much has reached us, yet the iconography of this deity, that is, a set of certain pictorial qualities that form the overall idea of ​​this image, in in this case quite stable.

We recognize Poseidon, first of all, by his attributes: a trident, a dolphin, an image of parts of a ship or its equipment - an anchor or an oar, and also, although this is not common, a wreath on his head, usually made of pine branches. This is probably due to the fact that the famous Isthmian Games - sports competitions in honor of Poseidon, took place on the Isthmus (the isthmus that connected the Peloponnesian Peninsula with mainland Greece) in a pine grove and a wreath of pine branches was a reward for the winner. However, if the attributes indicated only the functions of the depicted character, then his divine essence was evidenced, first of all, by an athletically perfect figure, a solemn pose full of greatness and dignity, and a noble, stern face. This is how Poseidon appears to us in the works of masters from the heyday of Greek culture.

The most widespread in ancient art were two types of statues - the so-called Lateran type, represented by the statue of Poseidon in the collection of the Lateran Museum in the Vatican, and the “Melos” type, named after a find on the island of Melos (dating from the end of the 2nd century BC, kept in the Athens National Museum).

Roman work of the 2nd century. AD according to the Greek original of the late 4th century. BC e. Marble. High 80.0 cm

The first type, dating back to the Greek bronze original of the mid-4th century. BC, is distinguished by the characteristic position of the figure of Poseidon, depicted naked: he stands with his right foot on the bow of the ship and leaning forward. With his left hand, the lord of the seas rests on the trident; his head, turned to the right, is slightly tilted down. The second type is Melian, which spread from the 2nd century. BC, demonstrates a straight posture of the body and head. Poseidon wears a cloak that extends from his left shoulder to his back and covers the lower part of his body. With his right hand raised up, he rests on a trident, and in his left he holds a dolphin.

Eastern Mediterranean. II-I centuries BC. Silver. High 6.5 cm

Roman copyists, when creating statues of Neptune, actively used Greek versions of images of Poseidon, supplementing the iconographic series with another one, close to the Melian one, with the only difference that his right leg there was a figure of a dolphin with its tail raised high.

Statues of Poseidon were often placed in his temples along with other sculptures that personified the sea element. Thus, the Greek writer and traveler of the 2nd century. Pausanias wrote that in Corinth, in the temple of Poseidon, “in the temple, which is not very large in size, there are copper tritons. In the vestibule of the temple there are statues: two of Poseidon, the third of Amphitrite and another of Thalassa (Sea), also made of copper” (Pausanias. II. I. 7).

Images of Poseidon-Neptune and his marine environment were created by Greek and Roman sculptors not only in round sculpture or sculptural groups freely standing in open space, but also in relief plastic, including on Roman sarcophagi funerary monuments: together with his wife Amphitrite, he sails through the waves in a chariot harnessed by sea horses - hippocampi, and next to them they are accompanied by tritons and the daughters of the elder Nereus - sea nymphs Nereids. In such scenes, Poseidon-Neptune was perceived in the minds of the viewer as the conductor of the souls of the dead to the afterlife, where his brother Hades ruled.

Among the legends and myths associated with the sea, stories about miraculous rescues people or heroes during their voyage across sea ​​expanses when, for example, dolphins acted as saviors (the myth of Arion). Stories about the devoted friendship of dolphins and children have also reached us: we know one of them in the transmission of a Roman writer of the 1st century. Pliny, Pausanias tells about another: “... I myself saw a dolphin showing gratitude to the boy for curing him when the fishermen wounded him; I saw this dolphin, how he obeyed the boy’s call and carried him on himself when he wanted to ride” (Pausanias. III. XXV. 7). It was stories like this that inspired sculptors who created figurines like the one on display at the exhibition (cat. 3). True, instead of a child, Eros, the god of love, is swimming on a dolphin, but this is only a quirk of an 18th-century restorer who added the wings of the divine son of Aphrodite to the ancient figure of a child.

Roman work on Greek models III century BC. Marble. High 87.0 cm

Planning trip to Greece, many people are interested not only in comfortable hotels, but also fascinating story this ancient country, an integral part of which are art objects.

A large number of treatises by famous art critics are devoted specifically to ancient greek sculpture, as the fundamental branch of world culture. Unfortunately, many monuments of that time did not survive in their original form, and are known from later copies. By studying them, you can trace the history of the development of Greek visual arts from the Homeric period to the Hellenistic era, and highlight the most striking and famous creations of each period.

Aphrodite de Milo

The world famous Aphrodite from the island of Milos dates back to the Hellenistic period of Greek art. At this time, through the forces of Alexander the Great, the culture of Hellas began to spread far beyond the Balkan Peninsula, which was noticeably reflected in the fine arts - sculptures, paintings and frescoes became more realistic, the faces of the gods on them have human traits– relaxed postures, distracted gaze, soft smile.

Aphrodite statue, or as the Romans called it, Venus, is made of snow-white marble. Its height is slightly larger than human height, and is 2.03 meters. The statue was discovered by chance by an ordinary French sailor, who in 1820, together with a local peasant, dug up Aphrodite near the remains of an ancient amphitheater on the island of Milos. During its transportation and customs disputes, the statue lost its arms and pedestal, but a record of the author of the masterpiece indicated on it was preserved: Agesander, the son of Menidas, a resident of Antioch.

Today, after careful restoration, Aphrodite is exhibited in the Louvre in Paris, attracting natural beauty millions of tourists every year.

Nike of Samothrace

The creation of the statue of the goddess of victory Nike dates back to the 2nd century BC. Research has shown that Nika was installed above the sea coast on a steep cliff - her marble clothes flutter as if from the wind, and the tilt of the body represents constant forward movement. The thinnest folds of clothing cover the strong body of the goddess, and powerful wings are spread in joy and triumph of victory.

The head and arms of the statue were not preserved, although individual fragments were discovered during excavations in 1950. In particular, Karl Lehmann and a group of archaeologists found right hand goddesses. The Nike of Samothrace is now one of the outstanding exhibits of the Louvre. Her hand was never added to the general exhibition; only the right wing, which is made of plaster, was restored.

Laocoon and his sons

A sculptural composition depicting the mortal struggle of Laocoon, the priest of the god Apollo and his sons, with two snakes sent by Apollo in revenge for the fact that Laocoon did not listen to his will and tried to prevent the Trojan horse from entering the city.

The statue was made of bronze, but its original has not survived to this day. In the 15th century, a marble copy of the sculpture was found on the territory of Nero’s “golden house” and, by order of Pope Julius II, it was installed in a separate niche of the Vatican Belvedere. In 1798, the statue of Laocoon was transported to Paris, but after the fall of Napoleon's rule, the British returned it to its original place, where it is kept to this day.

The composition depicting Laocoon's desperate death struggle with divine punishment inspired many sculptors of the era late Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and gave rise to a fashion for depicting the complex, whirlwind movements of the human body in the visual arts.

Zeus from Cape Artemision

The statue, found by divers near Cape Artemision, is made of bronze, and is one of the few pieces of art of this type that has survived to this day in its original form. Researchers disagree about whether the sculpture belongs specifically to Zeus, believing that it can also depict the god of the seas, Poseidon.

The statue has a height of 2.09 m, and depicts the supreme walnut god, who raised his right hand to throw lightning at righteous anger. The lightning itself has not survived, but from numerous smaller figures it can be judged that it had the appearance of a flat, highly elongated bronze disk.

From almost two thousand years of being under water, the statue was almost undamaged. Only the eyes, which were presumably made of ivory and inlaid, were missing. precious stones. You can see this work of art at the National Archaeological Museum, which is located in Athens.

Statue of Diadumen

A marble copy of a bronze statue of a young man who crowns himself with a diadem - a symbol of sports victory, probably adorned the site of the competition in Olympia or Delphi. The diadem at that time was a red woolen bandage, which, along with laurel wreaths, was awarded to the winners Olympic Games. The author of the work, Polykleitos, performed it in his favorite style - the young man is in slight movement, his face reflects complete calm and concentration. The athlete behaves like a deserved winner - he does not show fatigue, although his body requires rest after the fight. In the sculpture the author managed to very naturally convey not only small elements, but also general position body, correctly distributing the mass of the figure. Full proportionality of the body is the pinnacle of development of this period - classicism of the 5th century.

Although the bronze original has not survived to this day, copies of it can be seen in many museums around the world - the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, the Louvre, the Metropolitan, and the British Museum.

Aphrodite Braschi

The marble statue of Aphrodite depicts the goddess of love baring herself before taking her legendary, often mythical bath that restores her virginity. Aphrodite in her left hand holds the removed clothes, which gently fall to standing nearby jug. From an engineering point of view, this solution made the fragile statue more stable and gave the sculptor the opportunity to give it a more relaxed pose. The uniqueness of Aphrodite Brasca is that this is the first known statue of the goddess, the author of which decided to depict her naked, which at one time was considered unheard of audacity.

There are legends according to which the sculptor Praxiteles created Aphrodite in the image of his beloved, the hetaera Phryne. When her former admirer, the orator Euthyas, found out about this, he raised a scandal, as a result of which Praxiteles was accused of unforgivable blasphemy. At the trial, the defense lawyer, seeing that his arguments did not satisfy the impression on the judge, tore off Phryne’s clothes to show those present that such a perfect body of the model simply could not conceal dark soul. The judges, being adherents of the concept of kalokagathia, were forced to completely acquit the defendants.

The original statue was taken to Constantinople, where it died in a fire. Many copies of Aphrodite have survived to this day, but they all have their own differences, since they were restored according to verbal and written descriptions and images on coins.

Marathon youth

Statue young man made of bronze, and presumably depicts the Greek god Hermes, although no prerequisites or attributes of it are observed in the hands or clothing of the young man. The sculpture was raised from the bottom of Marathon Bay in 1925, and since then has joined the exhibition of the National archaeological museum in Athens. Thanks to the fact that the statue long time was under water, all its features were very well preserved.

The style in which the sculpture is made reveals the style famous sculptor Praxiteles. The young man stands in a relaxed position, his hand rests on the wall against which the figure was installed.

Discus thrower

Statue ancient Greek sculptor Myron has not survived in its original form, but is widely known throughout the world thanks to bronze and marble copies. The sculpture is unique in that it was the first to depict a person in complex, dynamic movement. Such a bold decision by the author served a shining example for his followers, who with no less success created works of art in the style of “Figura serpentinata” - a special technique depicting a person or animal in an often unnatural, tense, but very expressive, from the point of view of the observer, pose.

Delphic Charioteer

A bronze sculpture of a charioteer was discovered during excavations in 1896 at the Sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi, and represents classic example ancient art. The figure depicts an ancient Greek youth driving a cart during Pythian Games.

The uniqueness of the sculpture lies in the fact that the inlay of the eyes with precious stones has been preserved. The young man's eyelashes and lips are decorated with copper, and the headband is made of silver, and presumably also had inlay.

The time of creation of the sculpture, theoretically, is at the junction of archaic and early classic - its pose is characterized by stiffness and the absence of any hint of movement, but the head and face are made with quite great realism. As in later sculptures.

Athena Parthenos

Majestic goddess Athena statue has not survived to this day, but there are many copies of it, restored in accordance with ancient descriptions. The sculpture was made entirely of ivory and gold, without the use of stone or bronze, and stood in the main temple of Athens - the Parthenon. Distinctive feature goddess - a high helmet decorated with three crests.

The history of the creation of the statue was not without fatal moments: on the shield of the goddess, the sculptor Phidias, in addition to depicting the battle with the Amazons, placed his portrait in the form frail old man, who lifts a heavy stone with both hands. The public of that time ambiguously assessed Phidias's act, which cost him his life - the sculptor was imprisoned, where he took his own life with poison.

Greek culture became the founder for the development of fine arts throughout the world. Even today, considering some modern paintings and the statues can detect the influence of this ancient culture.

Ancient Hellas became the cradle in which the cult was actively nurtured human beauty in its physical, moral and intellectual manifestation. Residents of Greece of that time they not only worshiped many Olympian gods, but also tried to resemble them as much as possible. All this is reflected in bronze and marble statues– they not only convey the image of a person or a deity, but also make them close to each other.

Although many of the statues did not survive to modern times, they exact copies can be seen in many museums around the world.

Penteli Cave or Gate of the End

On the southeastern slope of the mountain, at a level of 720 meters, there is an entrance to the Penteli cave. Translated into Russian, this word sounds like “Gate of the End.” In the depths of the cave, a complex network of various corridors and underground adits begins, which stretches for many kilometers underground. Numerous anomalies and paranormal activity, which this place is rich in, haunt scientists to this day.

And he is on his way to shining Athens (part 1)

To say that I have wanted to see Greece all my life would probably be wrong, but over the past 35 years, I vouch for it. And then the occasion turned up - on June 18, 2006, in the suburbs of Athens, a Roger Worters concert. There is a travel agency right opposite my house. I cross the street, come in, and say: “So, so and so. Want. Is this possible? “Most likely yes, but call in three days. Let’s say it for sure,” they say. I call, make arrangements, wait, receive a visa, tickets, instructions... And early in the morning of 16/VI'06 on a Boeing-737 of Pulkovo Airlines I fly into a dream... CUT16/VI'06. The sky is clear only over St. Petersburg and Greece, the rest is covered with clouds .

Rhodes. Rhodes fortress

If you are planning to visit fairy island Rhodes, then be sure to pay your attention to the Rhodes Fortress - since 1988, the object world heritage UNESCO. This amazing monument to engineering talent was built in the Middle Ages by the Knights Hospitaller, who captured the island during crusades. Almost 220 next years this stronghold was considered the most impregnable and most protected in the entire Christian world.

Secret society - "Filiki Eteria" in Odessa

Alexandroupoli

Many people are not unfamiliar with the desire to go somewhere south in the summer. Even if they go to Greece, they still want to relax in its southern part. I suggest you visit the Thracian city of Alexandroupoli, located in the northeast of Hellas. Founded the city Great commander and the conqueror Alexander the Great in 340 BC. e.

In the south of Atiki lies Cape Sounion, shrouded in legends. This place is famous for its ruins famous temple Poseidon, who gave fishermen from nearby villages a rich catch. In gratitude, they built a temple in honor of the powerful God of the Sea on the top of a rocky cliff, near the shore of the Aegean Sea.

You can get from Athens to Cape Sounion along a good road among picturesque hills. On the way, travelers will see beautiful scenery. To rest from long journey possible on the beach or enjoying fragrant national dishes in one of the restaurants or cafeterias along the road. The final destination of a pleasant trip will be the cliffs of Cape Sounion with the amazing ruins of the Temple of Poseidon.

Legends of Poseidon

According to mythology, Zeus, with the help of the brothers Hades and Poseidon, killed his father, who independently commanded all the elements. After his death, power over the seas and rivers went to Poseidon. It is worth noting that the Greeks could not imagine their life without the sea. Numerous people passed through it trade routes, in it fishermen caught fish, and divers got shells and pearls.

It is not surprising that after the great Zeus, Poseidon was the main God of the ancient Greeks. Before going to sea, every fisherman and navigator brought gifts to Poseidon and asked for his favor. Otherwise, the great patron could become furious and smash the ship to pieces. God Poseidon was very generous, but also fairly punished those who were disrespectful.

To show their reverence, the Greeks built a sanctuary of Poseidon, and later, when it collapsed, they erected a beautiful temple. They believed that this would bring favor from the powerful deity. After all, even with enormous power, the gods were distinguished by the presence of human emotions and passions. They rejoiced at the offerings and were angry at the lack of attention, they loved and raged. Therefore, altars and temples, where it was possible to appease God, became mandatory during antiquity.

Remains of the Temple of Poseidon

Several decades before the construction of the temple, before 480 BC, instead of a temple on the rock there was a sanctuary of Poseidon, where people could leave gifts and ask for his protection. However, just 10 years after construction, during Persian attacks, the sanctuary was destroyed.

Historians and archaeologists agree that the completion of the temple’s construction dates back to 440. BC. It was led and designed by an architect who designed the sanctuaries of Hephaestus (the god of fire) and the goddess of retribution Nemesis. No documentary evidence has been found for these guesses, but the similarity of the architecture allows us to make such assumptions. In ancient times the temple was not empty. It was constantly visited by fishermen and sailors until the 1st century. AD While excavating the ruins, archaeologists discovered a huge figure of a man, as well as several much smaller human figurines. Now they have been transported to the capital and are on public display at the Museum of Archeology.

The Temple of Poseidon is a majestic structure; it stood for several centuries, but time does not spare anything. Only twelve huge columns and small remains of the base have been almost completely preserved to this day. The colonnade is striking in its size; with a length of 31.12 m, its width is 13.47 m. On the architrave ceiling there are preserved paintings of battles between centaurs and lapiths, as well as Theseus and the bull. In addition to the monumental ruins, tourists can enjoy the magnificent beauty of the Aegean Sea.

Alternative history of the temple

Among historians there are those who do not support the general opinion regarding the construction of the temple of Poseidon. Amazed by the size of the structure, they are sure that the temple was erected not by the ancient Greeks, but by the Atlanteans - the inhabitants of the legendary Atlantis. Scientists believe that the style of architecture diverges from that typical of ancient buildings. Even in the works of Plato, the temple of Poseidon is described as a majestic structure that can defeat any person.

Sea view from Cape Sounion

Ivory, gold and silver plates were used to decorate the walls and ceiling of the temple. In the interior there was a garden with giant trees. The perimeter of the temple was decorated with many golden sculptures with the faces of reigning persons. In the main hall, Poseidon was seated on a huge chariot, surrounded by nymphs and dolphins. Historians doubt that people could create such a structure and assume the intervention of the Atlanteans.

What does a tourist need to know?

Anyone who has ever enjoyed the views from the cliffs of Cape Sounion comes back again and recommends others to include this excursion in their tourist program. The magnificent scenery and stunning columns of the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion are simply mesmerizing. The ruins are available to visit daily from 8:30 to 20:00, from the beginning of April until October.

For entry to the territory historical monument need to pay. The ticket price for an adult is 4 euros. Citizens of European Union countries who are under 18 years of age can admire the beauty absolutely free.

Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion (near Athens): description, history of the cape, settlement with walls, other temples, map with stops, many photos, position of the “Byron” sign, opening hours, ticket prices and other useful information.

Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion was the place where sailors prayed to God for a successful completion of the voyage, sacrificing animals and other gifts to him. The Temple of Poseidon is located 69 kilometers southeast of Athens and stands at an altitude of approximately 60 meters above sea level.

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Cape Sounion

Cape Sounion, the southernmost tip of Attica, was an important strategic point from which the city-state of Athens controlled passage to the Aegean Sea, to Piraeus - the main port, as well as to the port city of Lavrion and the surrounding silver mines, thanks to which Athens became the main military and cultural center 5th century BC

Cape Sounion was the first to be mentioned Homer in his “Odyssey” (c. 8th century BC), describing it as “a cape sacred to the Athenians.” The playwrights Euripides (in Cyclops) and Sophocles, as well as the “father of comedy” Aristophanes, wrote about the temple of Poseidon that stood on it.