DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.48293#0123
THE SPIRIT OF GREEK ART
mourning for her lost daughter, but not with-
out the hint that Persephone has gone to the
realm of souls whence she will return with the
sprouting grain; for it is this same Demeter
whose constant gift to mankind is the grain.
In the person of Demeter it is the artist’s task
to present at least three phases of human ex-
perience, mother-love, love that death does not
conquer, and the beneficence to which man owes
the grain. Hermes is often shown with little
wings on his feet or with the caduceus. But
Hermes, too, is known by his human character,
the divine messenger, god of travel and trade,
the god who guided souls to the realm of Hades,
and at the same time the patron of athletics.
Though the statue by Praxiteles depicts him in
a mood of relaxation, no one questions that it
is a Hermes. While Athena is ordinarily shown
with helmet and aegis, and shield and spear,
she is no mere impersonation of war. Her prac-
tical wisdom which brought success to bold
general and shrewd politician, was equally the
source of women’s skill in the arts of the home.
In Athens she came to represent the spirit of
that city; the embodiment of all that made
Athens great. The so-called Lemnian Athena
(Plate HI) is no less Athena because she
[109]
mourning for her lost daughter, but not with-
out the hint that Persephone has gone to the
realm of souls whence she will return with the
sprouting grain; for it is this same Demeter
whose constant gift to mankind is the grain.
In the person of Demeter it is the artist’s task
to present at least three phases of human ex-
perience, mother-love, love that death does not
conquer, and the beneficence to which man owes
the grain. Hermes is often shown with little
wings on his feet or with the caduceus. But
Hermes, too, is known by his human character,
the divine messenger, god of travel and trade,
the god who guided souls to the realm of Hades,
and at the same time the patron of athletics.
Though the statue by Praxiteles depicts him in
a mood of relaxation, no one questions that it
is a Hermes. While Athena is ordinarily shown
with helmet and aegis, and shield and spear,
she is no mere impersonation of war. Her prac-
tical wisdom which brought success to bold
general and shrewd politician, was equally the
source of women’s skill in the arts of the home.
In Athens she came to represent the spirit of
that city; the embodiment of all that made
Athens great. The so-called Lemnian Athena
(Plate HI) is no less Athena because she
[109]