Sphinxes In The Iliad
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Abstract
Schwetzingen Castle has a very close tie to the Iliad and Greek gods and heroes. This can be seen when visiting the castles gardens. The gardens have statues and temples dedicated to Apollo, Zeus, sphinxes, and Athena. The placement of the statues in a garden in Germany shows the effect and values of the Greek people transpiring through time. The garden was created as a place to go and relax and reflect and the statues and temples serve to remind visitors to the garden of the values they stand for. The Iliad was a very influential piece of writing that continues to influence and interest people to this day.
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Schwetzingen castle is located in the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg. It served as the summer home for electors palatine Karl III Phillip and Charles Theodore. The …show more content…
castle is located in the city of Schwetzingen (a place you wouldn’t think would be so highly connected to Greek mythology). The Schwetzingen festival is held there annually.
Schwetzingen castle was first built in 1350 roughly 2,112 years after the Iliad was written (although the exact date/year is not known). The castle was originally very small and was surrounded by a moat. The castle was typical of castles in Europe at the time and was really not very exciting. However in 1697 a man named Charles Theodor took the castle to a whole new level when he added two wings as well as its beautiful Baroque gardens. Most of the statues in the garden were bought at auction, and are still considered to be high quality pieces of art.
When the gardens of the castle were being constructed Germany especially when it comes to gardening was going through a transition from French formal and Anglo Chinese to something very different and highly influenced by the roman and Greek empire. The castle itself has little influence from the Greek empire other than some domes and pillars but the garden was another story. The garden meant as a place of solitude and relaxation choose to pay homage to Greek gods and heroes.
Rosenberg (1999) noted “Homers characters strand apart from the story of the Trojan war as a sculpture stands apart from its background”(p.119.) so do the sculptures in Schwetzingen castle. When looking at images of Schwetzingen castle the connection to history and mythology is very apparent. Rosenberg also noted (1999) “Mycenaean’s adopted Athena and Hera from pre-
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Hellenic cultures; they combined their Zeus with the Minoan Zeus of Crete; and they adopted Apollo and Aphrodite from Anatolia and the near east respectively” (p.106.) Many countries and cultures followed their lead and adopted these Greek gods and heroes as well. The castle is surrounded by gardens and within the gardens are statues of various Greek heroes and gods. The statues give insight into the culture and values of the time of their creation. When Greece was thriving it was not unusual for many people to be illiterate. Because of this artist found a way to tell a story through their sculptures. The people who were unable to read the stories had to know that the gods were great and powerful so the images of them reflected that. The sculptures that can be seen show Greek figures (men, and women). The figures are noble/regal and ooze of pride and honor which were very important values to the Greek. The four main characters from Greek mythology that can be found in the gardens are: Zeus, Apollo, Athena/Minerva (Roman), and the Sphinx.
The Zeus statue is looking to the side and down and he is wearing a crown of leaves on his head. His demeanor is fierce and denotes a tone of power but still is very emotive. When looking at the statue from different angles his demeanor can be interpreted in many ways. However it is apparent when looking at the statue that he is no regular/mortal man. He is very strong and muscular and you can tell that he is a man of power. Being a Greek god however requires more than strength you must also be wise and patient which can also be seen in the statue. When looking at the statue you can almost see Zeus contemplating how he can trick Agamemnon into attacking the Trojans: “while gods and mortals slept, Zeus considered how he could best bring honor to Achilles and kill many of the Greeks”. Zeus was the all-powerful god
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And he had the power to pass judgment on any and all. Zeus was the epitome of justice and righteousness, but also a vengeful and apathetic god. The statue and its expression helped to remind people that we are only mortal men, and to the gods we are nothing but an annoyance. It was important for the Roman people to know the Gods were strong and powerful and this was reflected in this statue of Zeus.
Also in the gardens (with his own temple) is Apollo. The temple is open and contains a pillared dome with a marble statue of Apollo within it. Apollo is seen playing a harp and gazing off. On the celling of the dome is a very elaborate sun with outstretched rays. The sun can be seen as a metaphor for the gods: giving life as well as destroying it. Apollo’s face is expressionless but he looks peaceful and in deep thought. This is a reflection of Greek values in that they value intelligence as well as things of beauty including music. From the look on his face you would guess that he has not yet learned of Agamemnon rejecting his daughter’s gift. If he had you would see an angry god shooting arrows down the mountain, instead of the peaceful sun god pictured in the statue. Rosenberg noted (1999) “Apollo is the principal god of Homer’s Llios” (p.111.).Apollo is often pictured as a tempestuous god but this statue shows another version of the sun god. The statue symbolizes what he represents the sun and the nature of the sun: it gives as well as takes.
Behind the palace you can find the temple of Athena/Minerva. The temple says that it is dedicated to Minerva there are a few icons which are associated with the goddess of war Athena (the owl and the spear). Rosenberg stated (1999) “Athena is the favorite child of Zeus, she inspires and guides” (p.122.). This might be why she was put in the garden. The statue is very
Page 5 different than those of Zeus and Apollo because she is wearing a toga, while the men were almost naked. Women in Greek time were wise and powerful and respected, showing a naked woman especially a goddess would be somewhat taboo. Athena symbolizes our (humans) hunger for knowledge and information juxtaposed against our penchant for violence. The gardens of the palace were designed as a place to escape and relax and reflect. Athena herself was known to take excursions with Persephone to collect wildflowers and escape for a time.
Scattered throughout the garden as well are sphinxes.
Sphinxes were found throughout Greek mythology and acted as oracles. The sphinx is a symbol of our (humans) need for information be it good or bad. Because the sphinxes are in the garden also reflects the use of the garden as a place to think and reflect. Some of the sphinxes (four) sit facing a fountain which is dedicated to Zeus. Although sphinxes can be seen in many different cultures (most popular Egyptian) they also played a role in Greek mythology. In one story a sphinx killed herself after asking a riddle to Oedipus and him answering it correctly. This was lucky for Oedipus because had he not answered correctly sphinxes were known to eat people.
The placement of these four Greek characters in the gardens of Schwetzingen reflects what was held dear and valued by the Greeks: justice, life and death, power and knowledge. These things were not only important and relevant to gods but mortal men as well. The fact that they were put in a garden that was meant for contemplation and reflection shows that although they can be brutal and harsh characters they also bring enlightenment, peace, and
beauty.
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I had never heard of Schwetzingen castle prior to this research. As I looked at the pictures of the castle I found it to be unbelievably beautiful and magical. I especially enjoyed the temple to Apollo, because not only was the statue beautiful but the picture of the sun in the dome and the overall architecture of the temple was fascinating. Considering that the pieces are nearly 500 years old they still hold the same intensity and convey the same message that the artist was trying to convey all that time ago. I think that even if you had no idea who the sculptures were off of what they symbolized you would still be able to understand their message by just looking at them and that’s important and hard to do. The castle (just by taking a virtual tour) did have an impact on me. I think it is a very powerful place but also very serene which is a good metaphor for the Greek people and their values.
The purpose of the castle originally was to serve as a home or a safe haven for the people who lived there. I think everyone longs to have a space that is there’s that they can go to relax and be peaceful in which was the purpose of the garden. The statues played an important role in this. The garden was built not only as a place to grow beautiful plants, but also a sanctuary a place to reflect and think. The statues were there as a reminder of what they symbolized and stood for, and also as a way to pay respect and tribute to those they stood for. Rosenberg noted (1999)“The gods may participate in their lives by giving advice (both good and bad) by supplying thoughts and ideas, strength and skill, courage and determination” (p.123.), because of this it is no wonder the Greek god/hero sculptures found their way into Schwetzingen castle.
Page 7
References
Rosenberg, D. (1999). World mythology: An anthology of the great myths and epics. Chicago, IL: NTC/Contemporary Publishing Group, Inc.
Schwetzingen palace. (2013). Staatliche Schlosser und Garten Baden-Wurttemburg. http://www.schloss-schwetzingen.de/en.
The palace gardens of schwetzingen. (2013). Heidelberg-photo.
http://www.heidelberg-photo.com/English/Schwetzingen-Palace-garden.html
Abstract
Schwetzingen Castle has a very close tie to the Iliad and Greek gods and heroes. This can be seen when visiting the castles gardens. The gardens have statues and temples dedicated to Apollo, Zeus, sphinxes, and Athena. The placement of the statues in a garden in Germany shows the effect and values of the Greek people transpiring through time. The garden was created as a place to go and relax and reflect and the statues and temples serve to remind visitors to the garden of the values they stand for. The Iliad was a very influential piece of writing that continues to influence and interest people to this day.
Page 2
Schwetzingen castle is located in the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg. It served as the summer home for electors palatine Karl III Phillip and Charles Theodore. The …show more content…
castle is located in the city of Schwetzingen (a place you wouldn’t think would be so highly connected to Greek mythology). The Schwetzingen festival is held there annually.
Schwetzingen castle was first built in 1350 roughly 2,112 years after the Iliad was written (although the exact date/year is not known). The castle was originally very small and was surrounded by a moat. The castle was typical of castles in Europe at the time and was really not very exciting. However in 1697 a man named Charles Theodor took the castle to a whole new level when he added two wings as well as its beautiful Baroque gardens. Most of the statues in the garden were bought at auction, and are still considered to be high quality pieces of art.
When the gardens of the castle were being constructed Germany especially when it comes to gardening was going through a transition from French formal and Anglo Chinese to something very different and highly influenced by the roman and Greek empire. The castle itself has little influence from the Greek empire other than some domes and pillars but the garden was another story. The garden meant as a place of solitude and relaxation choose to pay homage to Greek gods and heroes.
Rosenberg (1999) noted “Homers characters strand apart from the story of the Trojan war as a sculpture stands apart from its background”(p.119.) so do the sculptures in Schwetzingen castle. When looking at images of Schwetzingen castle the connection to history and mythology is very apparent. Rosenberg also noted (1999) “Mycenaean’s adopted Athena and Hera from pre-
Page 3
Hellenic cultures; they combined their Zeus with the Minoan Zeus of Crete; and they adopted Apollo and Aphrodite from Anatolia and the near east respectively” (p.106.) Many countries and cultures followed their lead and adopted these Greek gods and heroes as well. The castle is surrounded by gardens and within the gardens are statues of various Greek heroes and gods. The statues give insight into the culture and values of the time of their creation. When Greece was thriving it was not unusual for many people to be illiterate. Because of this artist found a way to tell a story through their sculptures. The people who were unable to read the stories had to know that the gods were great and powerful so the images of them reflected that. The sculptures that can be seen show Greek figures (men, and women). The figures are noble/regal and ooze of pride and honor which were very important values to the Greek. The four main characters from Greek mythology that can be found in the gardens are: Zeus, Apollo, Athena/Minerva (Roman), and the Sphinx.
The Zeus statue is looking to the side and down and he is wearing a crown of leaves on his head. His demeanor is fierce and denotes a tone of power but still is very emotive. When looking at the statue from different angles his demeanor can be interpreted in many ways. However it is apparent when looking at the statue that he is no regular/mortal man. He is very strong and muscular and you can tell that he is a man of power. Being a Greek god however requires more than strength you must also be wise and patient which can also be seen in the statue. When looking at the statue you can almost see Zeus contemplating how he can trick Agamemnon into attacking the Trojans: “while gods and mortals slept, Zeus considered how he could best bring honor to Achilles and kill many of the Greeks”. Zeus was the all-powerful god
Page 4
And he had the power to pass judgment on any and all. Zeus was the epitome of justice and righteousness, but also a vengeful and apathetic god. The statue and its expression helped to remind people that we are only mortal men, and to the gods we are nothing but an annoyance. It was important for the Roman people to know the Gods were strong and powerful and this was reflected in this statue of Zeus.
Also in the gardens (with his own temple) is Apollo. The temple is open and contains a pillared dome with a marble statue of Apollo within it. Apollo is seen playing a harp and gazing off. On the celling of the dome is a very elaborate sun with outstretched rays. The sun can be seen as a metaphor for the gods: giving life as well as destroying it. Apollo’s face is expressionless but he looks peaceful and in deep thought. This is a reflection of Greek values in that they value intelligence as well as things of beauty including music. From the look on his face you would guess that he has not yet learned of Agamemnon rejecting his daughter’s gift. If he had you would see an angry god shooting arrows down the mountain, instead of the peaceful sun god pictured in the statue. Rosenberg noted (1999) “Apollo is the principal god of Homer’s Llios” (p.111.).Apollo is often pictured as a tempestuous god but this statue shows another version of the sun god. The statue symbolizes what he represents the sun and the nature of the sun: it gives as well as takes.
Behind the palace you can find the temple of Athena/Minerva. The temple says that it is dedicated to Minerva there are a few icons which are associated with the goddess of war Athena (the owl and the spear). Rosenberg stated (1999) “Athena is the favorite child of Zeus, she inspires and guides” (p.122.). This might be why she was put in the garden. The statue is very
Page 5 different than those of Zeus and Apollo because she is wearing a toga, while the men were almost naked. Women in Greek time were wise and powerful and respected, showing a naked woman especially a goddess would be somewhat taboo. Athena symbolizes our (humans) hunger for knowledge and information juxtaposed against our penchant for violence. The gardens of the palace were designed as a place to escape and relax and reflect. Athena herself was known to take excursions with Persephone to collect wildflowers and escape for a time.
Scattered throughout the garden as well are sphinxes.
Sphinxes were found throughout Greek mythology and acted as oracles. The sphinx is a symbol of our (humans) need for information be it good or bad. Because the sphinxes are in the garden also reflects the use of the garden as a place to think and reflect. Some of the sphinxes (four) sit facing a fountain which is dedicated to Zeus. Although sphinxes can be seen in many different cultures (most popular Egyptian) they also played a role in Greek mythology. In one story a sphinx killed herself after asking a riddle to Oedipus and him answering it correctly. This was lucky for Oedipus because had he not answered correctly sphinxes were known to eat people.
The placement of these four Greek characters in the gardens of Schwetzingen reflects what was held dear and valued by the Greeks: justice, life and death, power and knowledge. These things were not only important and relevant to gods but mortal men as well. The fact that they were put in a garden that was meant for contemplation and reflection shows that although they can be brutal and harsh characters they also bring enlightenment, peace, and
beauty.
Page 6
I had never heard of Schwetzingen castle prior to this research. As I looked at the pictures of the castle I found it to be unbelievably beautiful and magical. I especially enjoyed the temple to Apollo, because not only was the statue beautiful but the picture of the sun in the dome and the overall architecture of the temple was fascinating. Considering that the pieces are nearly 500 years old they still hold the same intensity and convey the same message that the artist was trying to convey all that time ago. I think that even if you had no idea who the sculptures were off of what they symbolized you would still be able to understand their message by just looking at them and that’s important and hard to do. The castle (just by taking a virtual tour) did have an impact on me. I think it is a very powerful place but also very serene which is a good metaphor for the Greek people and their values.
The purpose of the castle originally was to serve as a home or a safe haven for the people who lived there. I think everyone longs to have a space that is there’s that they can go to relax and be peaceful in which was the purpose of the garden. The statues played an important role in this. The garden was built not only as a place to grow beautiful plants, but also a sanctuary a place to reflect and think. The statues were there as a reminder of what they symbolized and stood for, and also as a way to pay respect and tribute to those they stood for. Rosenberg noted (1999)“The gods may participate in their lives by giving advice (both good and bad) by supplying thoughts and ideas, strength and skill, courage and determination” (p.123.), because of this it is no wonder the Greek god/hero sculptures found their way into Schwetzingen castle.
Page 7
References
Rosenberg, D. (1999). World mythology: An anthology of the great myths and epics. Chicago, IL: NTC/Contemporary Publishing Group, Inc.
Schwetzingen palace. (2013). Staatliche Schlosser und Garten Baden-Wurttemburg. http://www.schloss-schwetzingen.de/en.
The palace gardens of schwetzingen. (2013). Heidelberg-photo.
http://www.heidelberg-photo.com/English/Schwetzingen-Palace-garden.html