(2012)
The ancient Greeks worshipped their
heroes in ways dissimilar to the ways we worship our heroes today. The criteria
used to depict their heroes necessitated not perfection, but excellence. The
Alexander S. Onassis Cultural Center, with its reputation of didactic and
intriguing exhibitions, continues to inspire us with the inauguration of its latest
exhibition: Heroes: Mortals and Myths in
Ancient Greece. This exceptional display of art exposes the ancient Greek meaning of the
word “hero” which at the time did not require righteousness or morality, but
instead "was a product of the imagination of many endowed storytellers and
poets."
The
exhibition begins with Odysseus, the legendary hero of Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, and continues with
Achilles, the hero of the Trojan War, and the renowned demigod, Hercules. An
unsuspected hero, Helen of Troy, is also presented in this exhibition. Various
vases and sculptures depict the valiant acts of these four heroes and tell the
story of their glory and achievements.
Highlights of the
exhibition include a bust of a humble-looking Odysseus, looking exhausted by his long, hectic journey home. This contrasts with the proud bust
of Polyphemus, the one-eyed Cyclops that kept Odysseus captive. A large wine
vase illustrates the story of Odysseus escaping Cyclops’ cave by hiding underneath
the bellies of sheep. Another highlight of the exhibition was an amphora portraying Achilles
and Ajax playing a board game. Coins
from the time of Alexander the Great were also portrayed in this exhibition, as
well as a marble sculpture of the torso of
an athlete, a bronze Corinthian helmet, a vase depicting Helen and Menelaus and a sculpture of various scenes from the Trojan War.
The method in
which this exhibition was presented was very intellectual and perceptibly well thought
out. Each artifact and the story it told led up to the next. The tour guide directed
us through the exhibition was well conversant of the topic of hand and talked with
much zeal and enthusiasm.
My
personal favorite piece was a wine bowl that displayed a picture of a dolphin.
This is because after the ancient Greeks drank so much wine they would no
longer be sober and the dolphin would appear to be moving, as if it was swimming
in the ocean! Moreover, I found it interesting that ancient Greek athletes
would win an enormous amount of olive oil as a reward for their victory.
I strongly advise
the public to view this exhibition as it will be the experience of a lifetime.
The event was a great success, displaying remarkable pieces
that were both pleasurable and instructive. The knowledge one will gain after
viewing this exhibition will be immense, and it is very likely that one will
see a piece that will captivate and intrigue them and stay with them for a long
time.
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