Classical Greek and Roman myths were depicted in artistic works beyond literature. Painted pottery, sculpture, murals, and mosaics helped spread myths through visual representations. Pottery was decorated with scenes from myths and used for various purposes like storing food or wine. Sculptures depicted gods and decorated cities and homes. Wall paintings told mythological stories but many have been lost, though some survive at Pompeii after being preserved in volcanic ash. Mosaics also illustrated myths and became more elaborate over time, sometimes reaching the quality of fine art. These art forms helped myths influence both high art and everyday life in antiquity.

1. Artistic sources for Classical Mythology Painting on ceramics, sculpture, mural, mosaic

2. INTRODUCTION Greeks and Romans used their myths not only as a source of plots for their literary works but also as motifs to decorate and embellish their cities, homes and everyday objects. Because of that, we know how they imagined and represented their gods, and how they have influenced us.

3. PAINTING ON CERAMICS Greek pottery is one of the most remarkable artistic manifestations in Greek culture, in spite of its functional and practical character. Pottery items were used basically to: 1. store and/or transport food; 2. mix wine with water; 3. pour the wine; 4. carry water from the water fountain; 5. eat and drink; 6. keep perfumes and cosmetics.

4. MAIN GREEK VASES To store and transport food: AMPHORA A type of vase with two handles and a long neck narrower than the body

5. To mix wine with water: KRATER A type of vase with a large bell-shaped body on a short stem with two horizontal handles.

6. To pour the wine: OINOCHOE A type of vase with an S-shaped body, trefoil-shaped mouth and a single vertical handle.

7. To carry water from the water fountain: HYDRIA A type of vase with three handles, two horizontal on either sides of the body and a vertical one between the other two

8. To drink: KYLIX KANTHAROS Type of vase with a broad and shallow body raised on a stem and with two handles Type of vase with two high handles which extend above the lip of the pot.

9. To keep perfumes and cosmetics: LEKYTHOS Type of vase with a long and narrow body and a single handle attached to the neck

10. SCULPTURE Ancient Greeks learnt to represent the human –and divine—body in three dimensions (sculpture) very early. To make sculptures they used wood, stone –especially marble—and bronze, but also precious materials like ivory and gold. That is why many sculptures disappeared, because they were “recycled”. However, Romans made many copies from Greek originals which have survived.

11. Sculptures were used: 1. as an element in a divinity’s cult. 2. as a decorative element in the cities. 3. as a decorative element in wealthy people’s homes.

12. Diana, Barcelona Pilar Torres Pilar Torres Diana/Artemis ArchaeologicalMuseum, Istanbul (Turkey)

13. MURALS Painting on wall was used to decorate houses’ walls. Unfortunately, most of them have disappeared because walls are easily destroyed by fires, earthquakes, wars or simply by time. However, many paintings have survived at Pompeii (Italy) because it was covered by the lava and ashes from the Vesuvius.

14. Hermes, carrer Canuda, Barcelona Pilar Torres Hermes, ArchaeologicalMuseum, Sabratha(Libya) Pilar Torres

15. MOSAIC Mosaics were used to pave house floors. Originally they were very simple: people used coloured pebbles from the river banks. Little by little they grew more sophisticated until they became works of art.

16. Pilar Torres Theseus killing the Minotaur Archaeological Museum, Cyrene (Libya)

17. Credits Amphora, photograph from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Athena_Herakles_Staatliche_Antikensammlungen_2301_B_full.jpg Krater, photograph from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Chalice-crater_Louvre_CA491.jpg Oinochoe, photograph from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Tithonos_Eos_Louvre_G438.jpg Hydria, photograph from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Hydria_Python_Louvre_K287.jpg Kylix, photograph from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Lakonian_cup_BM_GR_1968.2-13.1.jpg Kantharos, photograph form http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Kantharos_sphinxes_Louvre_CA1339.jpg Lekythos, photograph from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:NAMA_Circ%C3%A9_%26_Ulysse.jpg Vase shapes from http://www.artfromgreece.com/vshapes.html Sculpture of Diana, Archaeological Museum, Istanbul (Turkey), photographed by Pilar Torres Sculpture of Diana in Barcelona, photographed by Pilar Torres Hermes, ancient painting from Libya photographed by Pilar Torres Hermes on a façade in Barcelona, photographed by Pilar Torres Mosaic depicting Theseus killing the Minotaur, Archaeological Museum, Cyrene (Libya), photographed by Pilar Torres.