Nature in ancient Greek art

B/W, paperback |23×22 cm | 40 pp. | January 2024

The worship of nature throughout ancient Greek history. the Cycladic, Minoan, Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic periods celebrate the natural world with marvels of art. This book’s illustrations are inspired by animals, plants, birds, creatures of the sea and mythical creatures, depicted in scenes and objects of the ancient Greek world. Discover ancient art and nature, get inspired and create your own works of art.

CONTENTS

Spring Fresco (clusters of lilies on the rocky Theran landscape), Akrotiri, Thera (Santorini), 16th c. BC ● Wild boar hunting, fragment of a larger fresco, Tiryns 14th-13th c. BC ● Foot soldiers mounted on dolphins, terracotta vase for cooling wine, ca. 520-510 BC ● The griffin fresco (legendary creature with the body of a lion, and the head and wings of an eagle), Throne Room, Palace of Knossos, Crete, (1700-1450 BC) ● Ceramic jug with bird representation, Thera (Santorini), 2000-1650 BC ● One of the marble guard lions of the road leading from the port to the sanctuary of Apollo, Delos, 7th-6th c. BC ● Papyrus Fresco, Akrotiri, Thera (Santorini), 16th c. BC ● Flying-fish fresco, Phylakopi Melos, 1600-1500 BC ● Waterfowls, hound and hare on a storage jar, ancient Mende, Chalkidiki, Northern Greece, 7th c. BC ● Part of fresco depicting a river landscape with subtropical vegetation, Thera (Santorini), 16th c. BC ● Dolphin Fresco, Queen’s Megaron, Palace of Knossos, Crete, 1600-1450 BC ● The Partridge Frieze, Palace of Knossos, Crete, 1600-1450 BC ● The Star of Vergina, depicted on a golden larnax in the royal tomb of Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, ancient city of Aigai, 4th c. BC ● Two of four chariot horses, most likely from the decoration of a metope from the Hekatompedon (forerunner of the Parthenon), Acropolis, Athens, ca. 570 BC ● Bird depiction on a two-handled deep cup (skyphos), Mycenae, 1150-1100 BC ● Bull-leaping Fresco (sport involving acrobats leaping over bulls), Palace of Knossos, Crete, 1450-1400 BC ● Octopus motif on a storage jar, Palace of Knossos, Crete, 1450-1400 BC ● Dionysus riding a panther, floor mosaic, Pella (capital of the ancient Macedonians), 325-300 BC ● Bird-shaped glass perfume containers, 1st c. ● Lions chasing a deer and an antelope, depiction on the gold plates of a wooden hexagonal pyxis (box with a separate lid used to hold jewelry and cosmetics). Mycenae, 16th c. BC