Theme: Humanism of the Gods and Goddesses in Greco-Roman Art

Thesis Statement: These works of art illustrate the value of humanity as something that is not to be belittled through its humanized representation of its very own gods, something not common in other depictions of gods throughout the span of human art.

Image List:

Title: Statue of Dionysos leaning on a female figure (“Hope Dionysos”)

Artist: Restored by Pacetti, Vincenzo

Date: 27 B.C.–A.D. 68

Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art

How It Relates To My Project: This god is portrayed as having very anatomical human features. He holds himself as a human male would when showing off his strength. His head tilt and bent knee show that his body functions the way a human’s would, so the humanism is clear here.

Title: Marble head of a goddess

Artist: unknown

Date: 4th century BC

Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art

How It Relates To My Project: This goddess looks very human in her bored or irritated expression. She is shown as having human emotions, and as reacting to such emotions in an utterly human way. The humanism is her carved features is present as well.

Title: Bronze statue of Eros sleeping

Artist: unknown

Date: 3rd–2nd century BC

Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art

How It Relates To My Project: This artwork highlights how Eros, the god of sensual love and desire, is illustrated in a completely human stance. Most gods, at this time, and, even still today, would not be interpreted as sleeping. Yet, here is one of the Greco-Roman gods sleeping in a way that looks so characteristically human.

Title: Marble head of Athena

Artist: unknown

Date: ca. 200 BC

Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art

How It Relates To My Project: This work makes humanism in her facial structures very visible. She has a human emotion on her face, of a slightly surprised disgust. Her head is caught in a motion of turning that looks very characteristic of a human turning their head to look at something.

Title: Eros Stringing His Bow

Artist: Lysippos (Greek original); Roman copy artist unknown

Date: 2nd Century AD

Museum: Onassis Cultural Center

How It Relates To My Project: This artwork highlights how Eros is, yet again, taken down to an almost human stance. He stands like a human would when stringing a bow as he is doing. He does not look ‘god-like’ when he strings his bow; he looks like an average human doing this. His body moves in a human fluidity, and the specific carvings also illustrate humanism.