The release of Christopher Nolan’s mammoth production of “The Odyssey” has inspired new interest in Greek mythology. Having grown up being told these tales as a child and later reading mythological Greek tales as a teenager, this is of particular interest to me. The origins of Greek myth are older than the events of The Odyssey, and the influence of the gods, particularly Athena and Poseidon, play a major role in Homer’s tale.
In an attempt to make the events more relatable to modern audiences, this particular screen version of the story plays down their presence but they are intrinsically part of it. Athena’s anger instigated the Trojan War after Paris chose Aphrodite over her as the most beautiful goddess and Poseidon’s anger over the blinding of his son, Polyphemus, obstructed Odysseus from returning home.
Ancient Greek vase depicting Odysseus’s
blinding of Polyphemus
A love of neo classicism was at its peak in the middle of the 19th century, hence mythological figures abound in the decorative arts of the time. Majolica was no exception. An example originally created for a Minton 24” majolica charger relating to the Trojan War is below. From the Minton Archive:
“In the story Paris, a Trojan shepherd, is asked by Zeus, king of the Gods, to judge which of three goddesses – Aphrodite, Athena, or Hera – should be awarded a golden apple inscribed “For the fairest one”. The artwork shows the moment Paris presents the apple to Aphrodite, who had offered the world’s most beautiful woman, Helen of Sparta, in return. His acceptance of this offer would ultimately bring about the Trojan War.”
Originally painted for a 24” charger, this study is a drawing of The Judgment of
Paris by Thomas Kirby for Minton from a Raphael Sadeler print.
One of the finest examples of Greek mythology in majolica is Minton’s monumental Prometheus vase. Done in the Greek taste, there is an example at the Philadelphia Museum of Art decorated by Silas Rice in the ancient sgraffito style, the body covered with mythological figures
Minton majolica Prometheus urn
It is one of several examples created by Minton with different types of decoration. For more information on the Prometheus vase go to my blog post which discusses it more in detail here.
Mythological figures are everywhere in the majolica of Victorian potteries. Satyrs and fauns are common themes. Drinking vessels and amphora styled vases are often decorated with Dionysus, (Bacchus), and Maenads. Dionysus is often displayed as a satyr in these vessels.
Minton majolica decorated wine ewer with satyrs
Minton majolica satyr jug
Minton majolica star ewer
Wedgwood majolica figure of a Bacchante
Minton majolica Dionysis ewer front George Jones majolica faun sweetmeat Minton majolica Dionysis and nereid ewer side
George Jones majolica faun
Rörstrand majolica satyr and griffin compote Minton majolica faun wall brackets
Wedgwood
Satyr majolica dessert stand
Wedgwood satyre wine ewer
Sarreguemines majolica faun vase
Zsolnay majolica satyr handled jug
Schiller & Sohn Dionisio center
Royal Worcester majolica fauns and putti planter
Other gods and goddesses are also present: Nereids (mermaids) and Tritons; Hermes (Mercury); Eros (Cupid); griffins and assorted other mythological characters and creatures.
Minton majolica Flower Bearers.
Royal Worcester majolica nereid
Minton triton majolica vase
Minton majolica Eros riding a vase
George Jones majolica Eros riding a dolphin
Wedgwood majolica triton sweetmeat
Unattributed tritons majolica master salt Wedgwood majolica triton candlesticks
Eichwald majolica nereid and satyr centerMinton majolica triton centerpiece Wedgwood majolica triton water ewer Continental majolica nereids compote
Schiller majolica nereids vaseSarreguemines majolica triton vaseMinton tritons jardiniere Minton majolica nereid and putto jug
Unattributed majolica sardine box Continental nereid fish platter
George Jones majolica sphinx center Jones majolica sphinx candlestick
Brown-Westhead Moore sphinx garden seat
Gerber & Stephan majolica sphinx Royal Worcester majolica griffin.
Schiller & Sohn majolica griffen compote
Gerber & Sntephan majolica griffin
Wedgwood majolica jug, Minerva's Helmet Unattributed majolica hippocampus master salts Wedgwood majolica hippocampus jug Wedgwood majolica hippocampus dessert stand
Minton cherub on hippocampus
Minton majolica plaque of Eros and Aphrodite
Minton majolica Hebe and the eagle
Royal Worcester majolica Hebe figural
Royal Worcester majolica figure, Britomartis
Continental majolica Leda and swans
Czech majolica Leda and the swan, signed F. Otto
French Palissy Medusa vase
Minton majolica Diana jug
Minton majolica figure of Chloris, the goddess of summer
Minton majolica vase with mythological scene by Thomas Kirby
Copeland mythological scene urn
Copeland majolica mythological scene
Unattributed majolica classical figural busts
Minton majolica plaque with various gods and goddesses, decorated by Émile Lessore
Minton majolica plaque with various gods and goddesses, decorated by Émile Lessore
Even the Americans got in on the fad with the Pandora series by the Phoenixville, Pennsylvania Etruscan Works.
Etruscan Majolica Pandora plate with Pandora and Hermes Etruscan Majolica Pandora series bowl with Eros riding a panther
As for Christopher Nolan's movie, one can only hope that it will cause more people to read Homer’s original works,
The Iliad and
The Odyssey
To view a trailer for Nolan’s movie “The Odyssey” go
here.
