A SAMPLING OF ANCIENT ART

LAOCOON

Laocoon tried to warn the Trojans about the wooden horse and Greeks bearing gifts. Parthenon After he gave his warning, Athena struck him blind, which caused people to disbelieve him.

After Laocoon gave his warning, two large gruesome serpents appeared from the sea and moved onto land and headed straight for Laocoon. The snakes devoured the two sons of Laocoon and then seized Laocoon. He struggled and screamed. The snakes escaped to the citadel of Athena (the enemy of the Trojans).

A magnificent statue of Laocoon is in the Vatican. It shows the death agony of the Laocoon. The two sons are presented as young men although in some stories they are described as infants. The serpents in the statue are more like large snakes than gigantic serpents. The statue was the work of Hagesandro, Polydoros and Athanodoros in the first century.

LEDA

Leda was the mother of Castor and Pollux, Helen of Troy, Clytemnestra and other children as well. Erechtheneum She is known as the Queen of Sparta. Zeus seduced Leda when he came to her in the form of a swan. Sources differ as to which were the children of Zeus and which were the children of Leda’s husband, Tyndareus, King of Sparta. Usually, Pollux and Helen are believed to be Zeus’s children and Castor and Clytemnestra are believed to be the children of Tyndareus. Some sources state that the sets of twins were born from eggs.

A very well known painting of Leda was done by Leonardo da Vinci.

PENTHESILEA

Penthesilea was the Amazon queen who led the Amazons to help the Trojans after the death of Hector. The Amazons were a nation of women warriors whose homeland was outside Greece.

Penthesilea came to support the Trojans and to be purified for the accidental murder of her sister. She was courageous and beautiful and led the troops to drive the Greeks back to their ships. This caused Achilles and Ajax to enter the battle. Achilles fought and killed Penthesilea. He stabbed her with his spear and impaled her horse. When Achilles saw her, he grieved for her passing and found her to be very beautiful.

CASSANDRA

Cassandra was a daughter of Priam and a prophetess in Troy. She was taught the art of prophecy by Apollo to gain her love. However, she refused him after having promised her consent. Apollo then deprived her of her powers to persuade. She tried to warn the Trojans about the impending calamity if they should bring in the Trojan horse but was not believed.

Cassandra left Troy as a prize of Agamemnon. His wife, Clytemnestra, pretended to be happy to see him and despite the warnings from the prophetess, Agamemnon and Cassandra followed Clytemnestra into an inner chamber were they were both slain.

SOURCES

Barthell, Edward E. Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Greece. Coral Gables Florida: University of Miami Press, 1971.

Bulfinch, Thomas. The Age of Fable, New York: The Heritage Press, 1942, (written 1855).

Pinsent, John. Greek Mythology. New York: Peter Betrick Books, 1983.

Tyrell, Wm. Blake. Amazons, Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University, 1984.