This portion of the site was contributed by Jan Canganelli and her original Microsoft 2007
document can be found here.
Odysseus is Ship-wrecked on the Island of the Nymph Calypso
This Greek vase painting from the 400s B.C. illustrates an episode from the
story of the Greek hero Odysseus. Returning home from the Trojan War, Odysseus
was shipwrecked on an island where the nymph Calypso lived. Calypso kept him on
the island for seven years, offering him eternal life and youth if he would
remain with her forever. However, Odysseus yearned to return home to see his
wife Penelope, from whom he had been separated for a long time. Zeus took pity
on the hero, and sent Hermes with an order for Calypso to release him. She
agreed and gave Odysseus supplies for his voyage. Jan Brueghel the Elder painted
this scene. He was a prolific artist, re-known for his pastoral genre scenes
and still-life paintings.
Island of the Sirens
This Attic red-figure stamnos (ca. 460 BCE) shows the Sirens, who have
bird-legs and wings, singing to Odysseus while his men, with wax in their
ears, stoically row on. What Greek mortal studied so far can play an
instrument that rivals the beauty of the Sirens’ songs?
Artist Leon Belly’s Version of Odysseus and the Sirens
In Greek mythology sirens were sea nymphs who lured sailors with their sweet
singing, causing their ships to founder. Odysseus overcame the temptation by
tying himself to his ship’s mast as shown in this painting by 19th-century
French artist Leon Belly in the Musée de l’Hotel Sandelin in Saint Omer,
France. Leon Belly was an academic artist specializing in the art movement
known as Orientalism, which is an art-historical term applied to a category of
subject-matter referring to the depiction of the Near East as exotic and
mysterious. Although not directly Near-Eastern, ancient Greece had Near East
ties (mythological and historical), thus the movement Orientalism can apply
here as well.
Penelope Tricks Suitors by Undoing Her Loom
In the classical myth Penelope waited 20 years for her husband, Odysseus, to
return from the Trojan War. During his absence, she strategically kept her
suitors at bay by promising to choose one when she finished weaving a garment
for Laertes. But each night she undid the day’s work on her loom. Italian
artist Pinturicchio painted the fresco called The Return of Ulysses (1509) for
a palace in Siena, Italy.
Penelope & Laertes' Shroud from an Attic Vase
Mentes (Athena in disguise) advises Telemachus to call a town meeting; he urges
the suitors to stop eating up all his food, demanding that they leave his house.
Penelope is the perfect feminine foil and parallel to her far-travelling husband,
Odysseus. She tries to outwit her suitors by unweaving Laertes' shroud each
night. This Attic red-figure vase shows Penelope sitting in front of her loom,
having been discovered and confronted by one of the many suitors. This scene is
from a red-figure Attic vase, ca. 440 BCE, by an artist known as the Chiusi
painter.
Odysseus Awakened the Next Morning by the Cries of Nausicaa's Maidens
“ So Odysseus was ready to face young girls with well-ordered hair, naked
though he was, for the need was on him; and yet he appeared terrifying to them,
all crusted with dry spray, and they scattered one way and another down the
jutting beaches. Only the daughter of Alkinoos stood fast, for Athene put
courage in her heart, and took the fear from her body, and she stood her ground
and faced him... “Homer, “The Odyssey,” Book Six. From a red-figure make-up
box (ca. 420 BCE). Can you identify Athena in this image? What attribute of the
god Apollo is pictured here (to the right of Odysseus)?
(Ino) Leucothea Preserving Odysseus
“She took pity on Odysseus as he drifted and suffered hardship, and likening
herself to a winged gannet she came up out of the water and perched on the raft
and spoke a word to him”—Homer, “The Odyssey,” Book Five. This is a sketch by
the famous engraver John Flaxman, who also embellished pottery designs. The art
movement known as Neoclassicism incorporated the styles and subjects of ancient
art. Greece and Rome were paradigmatic of Enlightenment ideals and represented
the height of civilized society to late 18th century art patrons. What is the
story of Ino as a mortal, and why is she portrayed here as Leucothea, goddess
of the sea?
Odysseus Visits the Cyclops' Cave
Odysseus insists on waiting in the Cyclops' cave for a guest-gift...and the
Cyclops starts eating his men! The crafty and cunning Odysseus gets Polyphemus
drunk, and then he drills a heated stake into his eye. This painting comes from
the neck of an amphora of the late Geometric period (mid 600s BCE); it shows
Polyphemus getting blinded, while he still holds his cup of wine. Geometric art
is characterized by precisely painted abstract motifs; depth and spatial
representation are lacking. Human figures are two-dimensional, with triangular
torsos shown in profile, with a single frontal eye in the center; arms and legs
tend to be spindle-like. What Geometric era art piece have we studied in class
so far? For a clue, see: http://faculty.evansville.edu/rl29/art105/img/greek_dipylon.jpg
Same Scene As Above (One Century Later)
The same scene [above] depicted on an Attic black-figure vase about a century later
(late 500s BCE).
Odysseus' Crew Steal the Cattle of Helios
"Father Zeus, and you other everlasting and blessed gods, with a pitiless sleep
you lulled me, to my confusion, and my companions staying here dared a deed
that was monstrous. Lampetia of the light robes ran swift with the message to
Hyperion the Sun God, that we had killed his cattle, and angered at the heart
he spoke forth among the immortals”—Homer, “The Odyssey”, Book Twelve. Painting
by Pellegrino Tibaldi; he studied the works of Michelangelo and Raphael, and
spread Italian Mannerism in Spain during the late 16th century.
Antiphates Devours a Crewman
“At once she summoned famous Antiphates, her husband from their assembly, and
he devised dismal death against them. He snatched up one of my companions, and
prepared him for dinner, but the other two darted away in flight, and got back
to my ship”—Homer, Book Ten, The Laistrygonians. This 17th century etching is
by Theodor van Thulden; he was an Antwerp portrait painter inspired by the
artistic style called Mannerism. This artistic movement 1st emerged in Italy in
the 15th century, and is characterized by a sense of artifice or contrived
imagery. Famous mannerists are painters Pontormo and Parmigianino; the Venetian
master Tintoretto, sculptor Benvenuto Cellini, and the architect Giacomo Della
Porta. Michelangelo’s later works are considered Mannerist.
Circe Pours Poison While Awaiting the Arrival of Odysseus
This is a 19th century version of the myth of Circe on her island and is
prototypical of paintings by artists belonging to the movement known as the
Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. These artists painted fictional, historical,
biblical, and mythological themes that can best be described as idyllic,
fanciful and meticulously detailed. This rendition of Circe was painted by
Edward Burne-Jones, late 19th century. Burne-Jones’ paintings often have the
golden-hued, delicate and gilded tones seen in medieval manuscripts. The two
snarling dogs here almost seem like a conflation of Cerberus, the hound who
guarded the gates to Hades’ realm.
Circe Turns the Men Into Pigs
From Homer’s the Odyssey: "And we came to the isle Aeaean, where dwelt Circe of
the braided tresses, an awful goddess of mortal speech, own sister to the
wizard Aeetes. Both were begotten of Helios, who gives light to all men, and
their mother was Perse, daughter of Oceanus." This Attic black-figure kylix
(c540 BCE) shows Circe turning Odysseus’ men into pigs. Who is Circe the aunt
of?
Odysseus with Sword Drawn, in Pursuit of Circe
This Attic red-figure krater (c440 BCE) shows Odysseus with sword drawn, in
pursuit of Circe. She will offer to go to bed with him...and he agrees.
16th century Pen, Ink and Watercolor of Odysseus and Circe
Stradanus, Belgian painter and draughtsman; born in Bruges (Belgium), he died
in Florence (Italy) in 1605. Height: 19.3 cm; Width: 27.8 cm. Odysseus and
Circe appear in fanciful16th century garb; note the many animals pictured
above. What is the significance of the donkey dressed in human garb?!
Odysseus Descends to the House of Death to Consult Tiresias
Odysseus went down to the House of Death to consult Tiresias. There he saw his
mother and some of his old comrades, including Agamemnon, Achilles, and Ajax.
This 1805 image is from an illuminated relief-etched copper plate by William
Blake and is entitled “The House of Death”; it calls to mind the shadowy
figures Odysseus sees in the Underworld. Blake was a poet, reproductive
engraver, painter and watercolor master. His artistic works are Romantic.
Romanticism emphasized the imagination, intuition, feeling, and subjective
emotion. Blake’s works are bucolic, delicate, brooding and elegiac. Blake was
deeply influenced by Gothic sculpture, and Michelangelo (notice the heavy,
blocky musculature in these figures). Blake’s paintings recall Byzantine art,
where flat figures seemed to ethereally float above ground; these figures were
intended to be metaphorical religious “lessons.”
Odysseus Speaks With the Ghost of Elpenor in the Underworld
This Attic red-figure pelike (c440 BCE) shows our hero Odysseus speaking with
the ghost of Elpenor, who fell off Circe's roof after imbibing too much
alcohol. Can you say who the figure to the right of Odysseus is, and why? Also,
does this pelike look familiar (it should!)?
Odysseus Made His Entrance in the Guise of a Beggar
Odysseus finally returns to his native Ithaca only to find Penelope, his loyal
wife, inundated by suitors who consume his wealth and over-run his palace. Here
Odysseus, disguised as beggar, approaches the forlorn Penelope, while his
father Laertes, son Telemachos, and the swineherd Eumaios look on. Terracotta
relief plaque, ca. 460–450 B.C.; Classical Greek: 7 3/8 x 10 15/16in.
(18.7 x 27.8cm)
The Family Meets…Unaware That the Disguised Beggar is Odysseus
This Apulian red-figure krater (c350 BCE) shows Penelope leaning against a
column at left, while son Telemachus [pictured in the center] sits and listens
to her. Odysseus glances down at his faithful dog Argus, the first to recognize
his royal master Odysseus. What happens to Argus after he sees his royal master?
The Beggar (Odysseus) Gets a Footbath
This relief plaque from the early classical period (c470 BCE) shows Penelope
and Odysseus, who attempts to hide his telling scar. What faithful family
servant is giving Odysseus a footbath?
Penelope Produces Odysseus' Old Bow
“So the suitors talked, but now resourceful Odysseus, once he had taken up the
great bow and looked it all over, as when a man, who well understands the lyre
and singing, easily, holding it on either side, pulls the strongly twisted
cord of sheep's gut, so as to slip it over a new peg, so, without any strain,
Odysseus strung the great bow”--Homer, “The Odyssey,” Book Twenty-One.
Suitors Meet Their Fate from Odysseus’ Arrows
The suitors meet their fate with a down-pour of Odysseus’ arrows; to the far
left. This is from an Attic red- figure vase, ca. 450 BC.
Odysseus and Penelope Prepare to Spend the Night Together
After Odysseus has bathed, he and Penelope again meet each other. How does
Odysseus reveal who he is to Penelope, and what occurs afterwards? From a Roman
wall painting (c60 CE).
Honoré Daumier: Odysseus und Penelope
Honoré Daumier is one of the most important French satirical lithographers of
the early 19th century. Working alongside Charles Philipon, another artist of
the French Republican journal Caricature, Daumier staunchly defended the French
urban working classes. French authorities arrested and imprisoned him on
several occasions for boldly confronting the rich bourgeoisie. Here is
Daumier’s whimsical 19th century print of Odysseus and Penelope reunited in the
matrimonial bed. Both Odysseus and Penelope don 19th century garb, nestled in a
bed that is decidedly “modern” (note the spear and armor above them!).
Daumier’s work is sketchy, spontaneous and expressive.