Herakles Nereus And Trion Analysis
Glynn, Ruth. 1981. “Herakles, Nereus and Triton: A Study of Iconography in Sixth Century Athens.” American Journal of Archaeology 85: 121-132
In this article, Ruth Glynn sets out to explore the mysterious and oft misunderstood iconography of a select group of images. Specifically those depicting the hero Herakles as he grapples with the sea god Nereus who was later replaced with images of Triton. Her goal, is to explain why this change took place as well as the significance. This she does though a study of the iconographical significance of the figures and their attributes. She then moves on the a detailed study of Attic era vases, marking out three different groups based on the imagery. She put forward the argument that for the Greeks, that for most scholars this association can only be made between these two entities. This …show more content…
In the first group which is comprised a half a dozen vases; Herakles is seen grappling with a fish tailed sea god called Nerus. The second group of fourteen vessels depicts Herakles engaged in battle with a now fully human sea god (presumably Nerus). The third and last group is of Herakles now in battle with the sea god Triton; however she says there is some time overlap between the last two groups. Glynn also addresses once again in brief why the image of the god Triton replaced that of Nerus. In her conclusion Glynn puts forward the idea that the motif of a Herakles and Triton locked in battle is connected to the “Athenian amphibious success”, in regards to the battle for possession of Salamis. This in turn, she argues, is connected to “Peisistratean Athens”, and the tyrannical family that held the city at the time. Suggesting that Peisistratos skillfully manipulated this and other myths so that they were more suited to his own purposes. Creating, in a sense a different iconology that better reflected this time in
In this article, Ruth Glynn sets out to explore the mysterious and oft misunderstood iconography of a select group of images. Specifically those depicting the hero Herakles as he grapples with the sea god Nereus who was later replaced with images of Triton. Her goal, is to explain why this change took place as well as the significance. This she does though a study of the iconographical significance of the figures and their attributes. She then moves on the a detailed study of Attic era vases, marking out three different groups based on the imagery. She put forward the argument that for the Greeks, that for most scholars this association can only be made between these two entities. This …show more content…
In the first group which is comprised a half a dozen vases; Herakles is seen grappling with a fish tailed sea god called Nerus. The second group of fourteen vessels depicts Herakles engaged in battle with a now fully human sea god (presumably Nerus). The third and last group is of Herakles now in battle with the sea god Triton; however she says there is some time overlap between the last two groups. Glynn also addresses once again in brief why the image of the god Triton replaced that of Nerus. In her conclusion Glynn puts forward the idea that the motif of a Herakles and Triton locked in battle is connected to the “Athenian amphibious success”, in regards to the battle for possession of Salamis. This in turn, she argues, is connected to “Peisistratean Athens”, and the tyrannical family that held the city at the time. Suggesting that Peisistratos skillfully manipulated this and other myths so that they were more suited to his own purposes. Creating, in a sense a different iconology that better reflected this time in