Uroosa Afridi
May 1, 2014
ART-HIST 2710-004
Tu\Th @ 10a-11:20
Term Paper
The Sanctuary at Delphi concludes many historical aspects; in the sanctuary, itself
concludes Arkadian monuments, Temple of Apollo, and a theater. Given the information, a
significant piece of art also concludes historical context: Battle Between the Gods and the
Giants.
The Battle Between the Gods and the Giants is notable for its complex representation of
space. The pediment of the Siphnian Treasury was originally filled with relief sculpture
(107).
The Battle Between the Gods and Giants also holds important artistic value, the figures are
depicted in a three dimensional form which gives an illusionistic representation.
To a sense of three-dimensional recession, the sculptors overlapped the figuressometimes three deep… (107).
The Battle Between the Gods and the Giants is a significant aspect of Ancient Greece art because
it is living proof the of battles that took place in the Sanctuary of Delphi.
The Battle Between the Gods and the Giants is fragments of the north frieze of the
Treasury of the Siphnians, Sanctuary of Apollo, Delphi, c. 530-525 BCE. The medium is marble,
height twenty-six inches, and the artwork is shown today at the Archaeological Museum, Delphi.
I chose Battle Between the Gods and the Giants because I enjoyed the mythical context behind
the Delphi Sanctuary,
According to Greek myth, Zues said to have released two eagles from opposite
ends of the earth and they met exactly at the rugged mountain site of Apollo’s sanctuary
(107).
Apollo’s sanctuary is where the artwork originated; Greek mythology plays a major factor in the
work of art by Apollo’s sanctuary being a common place for the eagles to meet miraculously.
The Battle Between the Gods and the Giants is found in Apollo’s sanctuary, which is a vital
aspect to Greek Mythology and Ancient Greek Art.
Battle Between the Gods and Giants theme is Ancient Greek archeology during the mid500 BCE. The artwork is described as muscular men fighting with each other, over lapping
bodies, shields are shown as a frontal view (giants and Gods protecting themselves), and a
lioness figure is devouring a man towards the middle of the relief. The far left men are trying to
protect themselves with their shields but the second man on the left has his legs severed, going
forward, there is a man on a chariot with the lioness figure attached to it. Towards the far right of
the artwork here are three men overlapping each other, trying to protect themselves but they are
not charging at anybody. Lastly, on the far right of the artwork there is a man that appears to be
dead, lying on the ground.
Towards the middle of the artwork,
there lays a lioness figure
devouring a man, also the lioness
figure seems to be on a chariot.
Battle Between the Gods and the Giants subject derives from the God of music or Apollo. Apollo
was a significant God throughout the Greek world and he was a Devine figure for many.
Apollo was worshiped throughout the Greek world, at Delphi every four years they held
the Pythian Games in his honor. He had many epithets, including "Pythian Apollo" (his
name at Delphi), "Apollo Apotropaeus" (Apollo who averts evil), and "Apollo
Nymphegetes" (Apollo who looks after the Nymphs) [Apollo].
The artwork possesses iconography such as using the number three to group the men
during the battle. The number three often refers to the holy trinity, which carries a religious
Starting from the left of the
artwork the there are three men
engaging in the battle, the middle
man is on the chariot but all three
of the men are gesturing or
touching each other.
aspect. Author Henry Francis emphasizes the true religious and historical context of the holy
trinity,
Generic representation of the Trinity, therefore, became a part of the traditional
knowledge of the artistic creator in sculpture, manuscripts, stained glass, or painting.
Consequently, a universal scheme in religious illustrations throughout Europe, however varied
in detail.
The artwork serves ideological functions such as the size of the relief was substantial due
to the pace given. The ideological function of the size was to serve a sense of prominence in
Apollo’s Sanctuary. The physical functions were to view the Gods and Giant is as idealistic me.
Considering each man has a tall, buff physique: broad shoulders, the details in their legs (their
muscles are toned by linear lines shaping their calves), linear lines depicting the definition of
their muscles show their biceps. In addition, their bodies are all in a unison position; their legs
are shoulder width apart forming pyramid or triangular shape. Battle Between the Gods and
Giants holds a great amount history, especially concerning the Giants, they opposed Greek
culture.
The Giantess might have represented the primitive northern tribes of Thrake, whose
barbarian culture was viewed as standing in opposition to Greek civilization. Some say
the Thracian tribes were born from the blood or ashes of the vanquished Giants (Asthma).
Battle Between the Gods and Giants compared to other works of art in the same era creates
comparisons and similarities. The Dying Warrior 500-490 or 470s BCE. The medium is marble,
length five feet six inches. Staatlich Antikensammlungen und Glyptothek, Munich. Both pieces
of art share the same medium, the function of the given artwork above is mainly a physical
function considering it are a life size artwork. Battle Between the Gods and Giants did serve a
physical function but it concluded multiple figures. The Dying Warrior is stabbing himself in the
heart, with his eyes closed but he seems to have a smirk on his face, vs. the Battle Between the
Gods and Giants their faces were very serious and inept with the battle. Both pieces derived
from similar eras but portray opposite perceptions due to the subject matter and function.
Lastly, I would like to discuss Battle Between the Gods and Giants and the meaning it
reflects. I think the artwork is a stellar piece of art because the battle itself was one of the most
significant battles to Apollo, considering he was a well-respected God in Greek Mythology he
deserves a tribute to his battles. Also, I thought it was clever to make the relief out of marble
because marble intensifies the details of the men’s physique. Battle Between the Gods and
Giants is important pieces of Ancient Greek Art due to its profound historical background as
well the physical and ideological functions that resonated in my mind.
Works Cited
1. "Apollo" created on 03 March 1997. Retreived from
http://www.pantheon.org/articles/a/apollo.html
2. Atsma, Aaron J. Theoi Project. 2000. Web. Retreived from:
http://www.theoi.com/Gigante/Gigantes.html
3. Francis, Henry. “The Bulleitn of the Cleveland Museum of Art” The Holy Trinity.
JSTOR. n.pag. Web. http://www.jstor.org/stable/25142446
4. Stockstad, Marilyn and Cothern, Michael. Art History, Vol. 1. Fifth Ed. New Jersey:
2008. Print