The floor mosaic as it was discovered in Pella; the figure on the right is possibly Alexander the Great due to the date of the mosaic along with the depicted upsweep of his centrally-parted hair (anastole); the figure on the left wielding a double-edged axe (associated with Hephaistos) is perhaps Hephaestion, one of Alexander's loyal companions.[1]
The emblema is bordered by an intricate floral pattern, which itself is bordered by stylized depictions of waves.[2] The mosaic is a pebble mosaic with stones collected from beaches and riverbanks which were set into cement.[2] As was perhaps often the case,[3] the mosaic does much to reflect styles of painting.[4] The light figures against a darker background may allude to red figure painting.[4] The mosaic also uses shading, known to the Greeks as skiagraphia, in its depictions of the musculature and cloaks of the figures.[4] This along with its use of overlapping figures to create depth renders the image three dimensional.
It is often wondered if Gnosis, whose signature ("Gnosis epoesen", i.e. Gnosis created) is the first known signature of a mosaicist,[5] could have been the painter of an earlier picture which the mosaic reproduces, rather than the mosaic-setter. In the case of pottery, 'epoesen' referred to a maker of the pot while 'egraphsen' was the verb used to designate the painter.[6] Therefore, if an analogy to pottery is warranted, it seems likely for Gnosis to have been a mosaicist. Since gnosis (Greek: γνῶσις) is also the Greek word for knowledge, others have said the inscription does not refer to an author at all; but to an abstract noun.[7][8]
The figures
The figure on the right is possibly Alexander the Great due to the date of this mosaic along with the depicted upsweep of the hair.[9] Pella is also the birthplace of Alexander. The figure to the left wields a double-headed axe, likely alluding to Hephaistos; meaning the figure depicted could be the generalHephaestion.[9] The dog depicted is possibly Peritas accompanying Alexander.[10] The stag and hound may allude to the myth wherein Artemis transforms the huntsman Actaeon into a stag when he tries to rape her. Once he is turned into a stag his own hounds turn on him and he is torn apart. The theme of abduction may relate the mosaic not only to the Rape of Helen by Theseus, depicted in another mosaic in the same house, but also to Alexander's conquest of Persia. As Actaeon had hunted Artemis but was destroyed by his dogs, so the Persians had tried to subdue Hellas - an effort earlier Macedonian kings had participated in - resulting ultimately in the empire's destruction by Alexander.
Deer in Greek mythology
In Greek mythology, the stag is associated with Artemis who was the virginal huntress. The myth goes when Actaeon saw Artemis naked, out of anger she turned him into a stag and he was torn to pieces by his own. In other accounts it is thought that Actaeon tried to rape Artemis. In this image we see the same concept of a stag being torn apart by a dog just as in the myth as well as by Alexander the Great on the right. It is speculated who is on the left. The theme here is the "hunter being hunted". It is a quite fitting mosaic for The House of The Abduction Of Helen, who was raped.
The stag also represents the Persians that Alexander would later conquer. He had stated his motives for battling the Persians as to get vengeance for them sacking Athens and destroying temples there such as the Parthenon.[11] This would again represent the idea of the hunter being hunted.
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stag hunt mosaic (Pella).
^ abKleiner, Fred S., and Helen Gardner. Gardner's Art through the Ages. the Western Perspective. Boston, MA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2010. pg. 135
^Ros, Karen. “The Late Classical Period of Ancient Greece.” Lecture, Ancient Greek Art and Archaeology UIC, Chicago, Nov 2017.
January 09, 2023
stag, hunt, mosaic, stag, hunt, mosaic, mosaic, from, wealthy, home, late, century, called, house, abduction, helen, house, rape, helen, pella, capital, macedonian, kingdom, bears, signature, ancient, greek, artist, gnosis, whom, very, little, known, located, . The Stag Hunt mosaic c 300 BC is a mosaic from a wealthy home of the late 4th century BC the so called House of the Abduction of Helen or House of the Rape of Helen in Pella the capital of the Macedonian Kingdom It bears the signature of the Ancient Greek artist Gnosis of whom very little is known It is now located in the Archaeological Museum of Pella Central Macedonia Greece The emblema of the Stag Hunt mosaic The floor mosaic as it was discovered in Pella the figure on the right is possibly Alexander the Great due to the date of the mosaic along with the depicted upsweep of his centrally parted hair anastole the figure on the left wielding a double edged axe associated with Hephaistos is perhaps Hephaestion one of Alexander s loyal companions 1 Contents 1 Composition 2 The figures 3 Deer in Greek mythology 4 ReferencesComposition EditThe emblema is bordered by an intricate floral pattern which itself is bordered by stylized depictions of waves 2 The mosaic is a pebble mosaic with stones collected from beaches and riverbanks which were set into cement 2 As was perhaps often the case 3 the mosaic does much to reflect styles of painting 4 The light figures against a darker background may allude to red figure painting 4 The mosaic also uses shading known to the Greeks as skiagraphia in its depictions of the musculature and cloaks of the figures 4 This along with its use of overlapping figures to create depth renders the image three dimensional It is often wondered if Gnosis whose signature Gnosis epoesen i e Gnosis created is the first known signature of a mosaicist 5 could have been the painter of an earlier picture which the mosaic reproduces rather than the mosaic setter In the case of pottery epoesen referred to a maker of the pot while egraphsen was the verb used to designate the painter 6 Therefore if an analogy to pottery is warranted it seems likely for Gnosis to have been a mosaicist Since gnosis Greek gnῶsis is also the Greek word for knowledge others have said the inscription does not refer to an author at all but to an abstract noun 7 8 The figures EditThe figure on the right is possibly Alexander the Great due to the date of this mosaic along with the depicted upsweep of the hair 9 Pella is also the birthplace of Alexander The figure to the left wields a double headed axe likely alluding to Hephaistos meaning the figure depicted could be the general Hephaestion 9 The dog depicted is possibly Peritas accompanying Alexander 10 The stag and hound may allude to the myth wherein Artemis transforms the huntsman Actaeon into a stag when he tries to rape her Once he is turned into a stag his own hounds turn on him and he is torn apart The theme of abduction may relate the mosaic not only to the Rape of Helen by Theseus depicted in another mosaic in the same house but also to Alexander s conquest of Persia As Actaeon had hunted Artemis but was destroyed by his dogs so the Persians had tried to subdue Hellas an effort earlier Macedonian kings had participated in resulting ultimately in the empire s destruction by Alexander Deer in Greek mythology EditIn Greek mythology the stag is associated with Artemis who was the virginal huntress The myth goes when Actaeon saw Artemis naked out of anger she turned him into a stag and he was torn to pieces by his own In other accounts it is thought that Actaeon tried to rape Artemis In this image we see the same concept of a stag being torn apart by a dog just as in the myth as well as by Alexander the Great on the right It is speculated who is on the left The theme here is the hunter being hunted It is a quite fitting mosaic for The House of The Abduction Of Helen who was raped The stag also represents the Persians that Alexander would later conquer He had stated his motives for battling the Persians as to get vengeance for them sacking Athens and destroying temples there such as the Parthenon 11 This would again represent the idea of the hunter being hunted References Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stag hunt mosaic Pella Chugg Andrew 2006 Alexander s Lovers Raleigh N C Lulu ISBN 978 1 4116 9960 1 pp 78 79 a b Kleiner Fred S and Helen Gardner Gardner s Art through the Ages the Western Perspective Boston MA Wadsworth Cengage Learning 2010 pg 135 The history of mosaic art a b c Kleiner and Gardner pg 136 Mosaics of the Greek and Roman world By Katherine M D Dunbabin pg 14 Mertens Joan R How to Read Greek Vases New York Metropolitan Museum of Art and Yale UP 2010 pg 13 Cohen Ada Art in the Era of Alexander the Great Paradigms of Manhood and Their Cultural Traditions New York Cambridge UP 2010 pg 32 Paolo Moreno thinks it was intended to be read as Apelles s Knowledge Made It a b Chugg Andrew Alexander s Lovers Raleigh N C Lulu 2006 pg 78 Chugg Andrew Alexander s Lovers Raleigh N C Lulu 2006 pg 79 Ros Karen The Late Classical Period of Ancient Greece Lecture Ancient Greek Art and Archaeology UIC Chicago Nov 2017 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Stag Hunt Mosaic amp oldid 1050185934, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
