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"PANDORA'S BOX: THE ROLES OF WOMEN IN ANCIENT GREECE"
A VIDEO LECTURE BY DR. ELLEN D. REEDER THE WALTERS ART GALLERY
This video, which features 138 works of art from 5th century Greece, is an overview of the first ancient art exhibition in the world to center around women; it is being shown in 1995-96 at the Walter's Art Gallery in Baltimore, the Dallas Museum of Art and the Antikenmuseum in Basel, Switzerland. With a text by Dr. Ellen Reeder, Curator of Ancient Art at the Walter's Art Gallery, it provides groundbreaking perspectives into the lives, customs, rituals and myths of Classical Greece, traditionally considered to be a most influential time in the development of Western civilization. The masterpieces viewed and discussed display a range of archetypes--mother, virgin, prostitute, protectress--that have been woven so tightly into the fabric of Western culture that they are still with us today. Organized in four sections, the lecture begins with what constituted the ideal woman in Greek society, including proper body language, facial expression and general comportment. The second section explores a key metaphor for women in Ancient Greece: women as vessel. Images of containers and containment, confinement to hearth and home, and the womb for childbearing inspire the symbolism on vases and statues. The third section examines the metaphor of woman as a wild animal who needs to be tamed. This includes fertility rites and the view of courtship as a hunt, with woman as the prey. The final section focuses on various myths that dramatize the anxiety and apprehension the Greeks felt regarding the taming of women. Representations of mythological figures, such as Artemis, Athena, Circe, the Sirens among others are discussed in terms of their dominant roles and connotations of independence. The video, Pandora's Box: The Roles of Women in Ancient Greece, is intended for home viewing by the general public as well as for use in educational settings. With its interdisciplinary approach it presents material directly connected to Art History and Classical Archaeology; in addition, its subject matter is of great value to Women's Studies, Sociology and Anthropology.
PROGRAM Introduction Aidos and Sophrosyne–Modesty and Dignity Gesture and Gaze The Wedding Containers as Metaphors for Women Woman and the Metaphor of Wild Animals Mythical Woman as Images of Apprehension Conclusion
For thousands of years Greek myths have survived providing instuction, amusement and life affirmation for both adults and children. Myths change with the telling whether it be in words or images. Scholars have come to realize that the artists of ancient Greece, in preserving interpretations of myths and rituals in vase paintings and sculpture, used a wealth of visual imagery. Through works of art gathered from museums and private collections the world over, the lecturer Dr. Ellen D. Reeder, illustrates how that imagery reveals to us today the values, perceptions and concerns that surrounded the woman of Classical Greece.
Glossary: Agamemnon King of Mycenae, father of Iphigenia Amazon female warrior Amymone maiden pursued by Poseidon Aphrodite goddess of love Artemis goddess of the hunt, guardian of young girls Atalanta a hunter and runner, adverse to marriage Circe daughter of Helios and a famed magician who turns men to swine Demeter goddess of the earth and mother of Persephone Eos goddess of the dawn Epimetheus husband of Pandora Erichthonios Attic hero, king of Athens Eros (Cupid) son of Aprhrodite Gorgon femal monster. Medusa was a Gorgon Hades god of the underworld Herakles son of Zeus, renowned for his strength Hermes the messenger god Iphigenia daughter of Agamemnon, who killed her Maenad female follower of Dionysus, often frenzied Medusa Gorgon slain by Perseus Odysseus king of Ithaca Orpheus poet and singer Pandora the first woman, created by the gods from clay Pegasus winged horse, offspring of Medusa Peleus suitor who won Thetis as his wife Perseophone wife of Hades
General Terms: aegis shaggy skin with fringe of snakes worn by Athena aidos modesty of demeanor amphora two-handled jar anakalypteria the moment of the bride's unveiling Arrephoroi young girls who participate in a ritual of Athena Brauron a religious sanctuary of Artemis in ATtica Eschara central hearth of a house hetaira prostitute hydria water vessel kanephoros(oi) unmarried virgin(s) who functioned as a ritual basket carrier kanoun basket used for ritual purposes kiste basket or chest, usally short and cylindrical kore (ai) unmarried maiden(s) with the connotations of daugher krater mixing bowl for wine and water kylix two handled drinking cup lebes famikos "wedding bowl," a deep bolw with a stand mychos innermost part of a house nympheutria assistant to the bride oinochoe one-handled jug used to hold and pour liquid omophagy: eating raw flesh phiale a wide, flat bowl used for ritual libation pithos a storage jar pyxis vessel used to contain jewelry and toiletries sophrosyne discretion, dignity stamnos a large jar used for wine
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