An interesting fact from the History Channel

[SoCalCoug]

I was watching a show on the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World, and during the segment on the Temple of Zeus, a statement was made that some scholars believe that the earlier paintings of Christ used the likenesses of Zeus as the model for what he looked like.

So, did Zeus play hockey?

[Solon]

I was watching a show on the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World, and during the segment on the Temple of Zeus, a statement was made that some scholars believe that the earlier paintings of Christ used the likenesses of Zeus as the model for what he looked like.

So, did Zeus play hockey?

I've heard this too, but I haven't ever really seen the connection. Most early Christian renditions of Jesus that I've seen show him as the good shepherd or raising Lazarus from the dead, not presiding over the world. Maybe in the Byzantine world. [By the way, here is a pretty cool conglomeration of Jesus images.]

The image of Zeus from Olympia, though, is an important one in history; it's a symbol of kingship and power. Zeus is always seated, with one arm raised to support a spear and another holding an object, usually an eagle. Although the implements in the god's hands change over time, the positioning generally remains the same, with one arm raised to the square and the other cupped, palm up, to support or hold something.

The image is at least as old as Ba'al, although Ba'al is usually standing. In the Ba'al à foudre, the god holds a tree-like (Asherah) thunderbolt and a rod. In the fourth century BC, Alexander put the image on the back of his coins to connect himself with divinity and the Eastern Roman Empire recognized Jupiter Heliopolitanus, a version of Ba'al (couldn't find a good online photo - sorry). In modern times, Horatio Greenough sculpted George Washington in this god-pose in 1840, only with Washington pointing up instead of holding a spear.

[TripletDaddy]

I've heard this too, but I haven't ever really seen the connection. Most early Christian renditions of Jesus that I've seen show him as the good shepherd or raising Lazarus from the dead, not presiding over the world. Maybe in the Byzantine world. [By the way, here is a pretty cool conglomeration of Jesus images.]

The image of Zeus from Olympia, though, is an important one in history; it's a symbol of kingship and power. Zeus is always seated, with one arm raised to support a spear and another holding an object, usually an eagle. Although the implements in the god's hands change over time, the positioning generally remains the same, with one arm raised to the square and the other cupped, palm up, to support or hold something.

The image is at least as old as Ba'al, although Ba'al is usually standing. In the Ba'al à foudre, the god holds a tree-like (Asherah) thunderbolt and a rod. In the fourth century BC, Alexander put the image on the back of his coins to connect himself with divinity and the Eastern Roman Empire recognized Jupiter Heliopolitanus, a version of Ba'al (couldn't find a good online photo - sorry). In modern times, Horatio Greenough sculpted George Washington in this god-pose in 1840, only with Washington pointing up instead of holding a spear.

Solon, appreciate the insight. Very interesting. Thanks.

[Solon]

Solon, appreciate the insight. Very interesting. Thanks.

You're welcome.

I should also point out that this pose was commonly used to swear oaths in ancient Rome - at least as portrayed on coins. The image on this coin from ca. 106 BC shows two soldiers swearing an oath over the carcass of a sow they just sacrificed as part of the ceremony.

[All-American]

I've commented on this before:

http://cougarguard.com/forum/showpos...8&postcount=35

[Solon]

I've commented on this before:

http://cougarguard.com/forum/showpos...8&postcount=35

I remember this one. Good work. But do you know what's behind this assumed connection with Pheidias' Zeus at Olympia, rather than just with more general classical sculpted ideals of deity?

[All-American]

I remember this one. Good work. But do you know what's behind this assumed connection with Pheidias' Zeus at Olympia, rather than just with more general classical sculpted ideals of deity?

A connection with THIS particular sculpture? I dunno. The statue was created several hundred years before Christ, so I wouldn't think that any image of Christ would have been specifically modeled after this one statue of Zeus, but after the wide-spread conception of Zeus. (It was around during the life of Christ, though, and made it to about the 400s AD, if I recall correctly.)

I am also told, parenthetically, that Pheidias based his statue on the image suggested in book one of the Iliad, when Zeus granted the request of Thetis, mother of Achilles:

ἦ καὶ κυανέῃσιν ἐπ' ὀφρύσι νεῦσε Κρονίων
ἀμβρόσιαι δ' ἄρα χαῖται ἐπερρώσαντο ἄνακτος
κρατὸς ἀπ' ἀθανάτοιο μέγαν δ' ἐλέλιξεν Ὄλυμπον

(The son of Kronos spoke and nodded his dark brows,
the ambrosial locks flowing from the head of the
immortal ruler, and with great power shook Olympus.)

Kinda cool.

[Solon]

A connection with THIS particular sculpture? I dunno. The statue was created several hundred years before Christ, so I wouldn't think that any image of Christ would have been specifically modeled after this one statue of Zeus, but after the wide-spread conception of Zeus. (It was around during the life of Christ, though, and made it to about the 400s AD, if I recall correctly.)

I am also told, parenthetically, that Pheidias based his statue on the image suggested in book one of the Iliad, when Zeus granted the request of Thetis, mother of Achilles:

ἦ καὶ κυανέῃσιν ἐπ' ὀφρύσι νεῦσε Κρονίων
ἀμβρόσιαι δ' ἄρα χαῖται ἐπερρώσαντο ἄνακτος
κρατὸς ἀπ' ἀθανάτοιο μέγαν δ' ἐλέλιξεν Ὄλυμπον

(The son of Kronos spoke and nodded his dark brows,
the ambrosial locks flowing from the head of the
immortal ruler, and with great power shook Olympus.)

Kinda cool.

Great passage. Nice hexameters.

In Greece even today nodding your head up means "no" and bowing your head downwards means "yes." It's kind of confusing to hear them say "Né" while nodding downwards to say "yes."

I had a prof. tell me the origin stems from suppliants who would grab a beard to ask for favors. Pulling one's head up sharply took the beard out of reach - a negative answer.

[All-American]

Great passage. Nice hexameters.

In Greece even today nodding your head up means "no" and bowing your head downwards means "yes." It's kind of confusing to hear them say "Né" while nodding downwards to say "yes."

I had a prof. tell me the origin stems from suppliants who would grab a beard to ask for favors. Pulling one's head up sharply took the beard out of reach - a negative answer.

In fact, Thetis does just that in entreating Zeus:

[Solon]

In fact, Thetis does just that in entreating Zeus:

I would be hard pressed to deny her.

Classics will miss you. I hope you keep your hand in the pie.

[All-American]

I would be hard pressed to deny her.

Classics will miss you. I hope you keep your hand in the pie.

We've had a good run, but it's time for us to be seeing other people. I need someone hotter, younger, and with more money.