Art and Myth in Ancient Greece

by T. H. Carpenter

Overview

An essential visual handbook for anyone interested in Greek myth written by T. H. Carpenter, one of the world’s leading experts on myth in ancient art.

The ancient Greeks recorded their mythology on vase paintings, engraved gems, and bronze and stone sculptures, offering depictions that often predate any references to the myths in literature or recount alternative, unfamiliar versions of these tales. In some cases, visual art provides our only evidence of these myths, as there are no surviving accounts in ancient Greek literature of stories such as the Fall of Troy or Theseus and the Minotaur.

Art and Myth in Ancient Greece is a comprehensive survey of myth as it appears in Greek art. This classic volume has been updated with text and full-color images of more than three hundred scenes from Greek sculptures, vases, and gems. Aiding in the identification of mythological scenes and explaining chronological developments in style and subject matter, this book is an essential reference for anyone interested in the art, drama, poetry, or religion of ancient Greece.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780500204542
Publisher:	Thames & Hudson
Publication date:	04/13/2021
Series:	World of Art
Edition description:	Second
Pages:	312
Sales rank:	323,707
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

T. H. Carpenter is a distinguished professor emeritus at Ohio University, where he has taught since 1997. His other books include Dionysian Imagery in Fifth-Century Athens and Mythology: Greek and Roman.

Table of Contents

Preface 7

Chapter 1 Introduction 8

Chapter 2 A Demonstration of Method: The Return of Hephaistos; Troilos and Achilles 17

Chapter 3 Portraits of the Gods 43

Chapter 4 The Ascendancy of the Olympians 85

Chapter 5 Perseus; Bellerophon 130

Chapter 6 Herakles 148

Chapter 7 Theseus 202

Chapter 8 Argonauts; Calydonian Boar Hunt 229

Chapter 9 The Trojan War 242

Chapter 10 The Aftermath of the War 284

Selected Sources 299

List of Illustrations 300

Index of Mythological Subjects 307

Index of Common Attributes 311

Editorial Reviews

"A useful guide to a fascinating subject."

Antiques Bulletin