Warriors, Weapons and Wine Cups: Exploring the World of Alexander the Great

Written by Chrysoula K.

(2005)

     Few people changed the course of world history the way Alexander the Great did. A towering figure of antiquity, it is no surprise that the Onassis Cultural Center recently inaugurated an entire exhibit dedicated to this famous king and the age that followed his death. The exhibition Alexander the Great: Treasures from an Epic Era of Hellenism consists of various artifacts ranging from statues to clever weaponry to everyday wine cups. The display also demonstrates how the Greeks interacted with their art in even the simplest ways.

     Upon entering the room, the first thing one notices are two beautiful marble portraits of Alexander: one found near the Athenian Acropolis and the other in Pella. Although the portrait found in Athens is missing a nose, none of its perfection is missing. Alexander’s hair is in a flowing mass which resembles the mane of a lion. He is youthful looking and has deep-set eyes and an intense expression. Appearing strong and regal, Alexander tilts his head to honor the gods. Created in the fourth century B.C., this exquisite sculpture takes the viewer's breath away.

     A great part of this exhibition is dedicated to Macedonian weaponry. According to the catalogue, “weapons were to men what jewelry was to women. They became symbols of a man’s status in the world and followed him …to the grave.” (catalogue, p.53). Among the weapons and armor displayed (helmets, a shield, greaves, swords and javelins), the sarissa is the most interesting. This fearsome weapon is partially like a spear but much longer. The length of an actual sarissa in ancient times was 5.5 meters. It weighed fifteen pounds. This long weapon was of great use in Alexander’s military formation called the phalanx- a dense formation of soldiers which was meant to intimidate and ultimately kill the enemy. What seems most incredible is how an average soldier was able to hold and maneuver this long and heavy weapon so effectively on the battlefield.

     The most interesting pieces in this exhibit are the wine cups. Some are everyday cups that were used by the average person while others were used by the wealthy. In every case though, human interaction with this art plays an important role. In one display, for example, there is a cup in which a three dimensional portrait of Alexander is on the bottom, inside the cup. One has to drink the wine in the cup in order to see the portrait and hence “interact with this art.” Sometimes a riddle would appear on the outside of the cup and, in order to see the answer, one would have to drink the wine in the cup also. These were clever inventions indeed!

     After viewing this exhibition, I felt proud to be a Greek. The Onassis Foundation has done an excellent job in enlightening the public about this important ancient military figure and the times in which he lived. A visit to the Onassis Cultural Center is a must for lovers of art and history.