DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9177#0103
CHAPTER VI
the types of the gods
Though Greek art is based ultimately upon the physical
beauty of the race, yet into its structure other elements are
built. It is in a sense religious, but in what sense needs to a
modern mind much explanation, the modern notions in regard
to religion being very different from those of the Greeks.
Most of the great religions of the world are either hostile
to plastic art, or at all events unjust to it. As we all know,
the second commandment of the Jewish Decalogue absolutely
prohibits the making of sculptural or pictorial representations
of any creature. Of those who in our churches repeat the
Commandment week by week, very few realize this fact, which
shows with how little attention we regard words said in church.
The Mohammedans take the Jewish view; and to the stricter
of them any representation of a living thing is anathema, whence
the terrible havoc wrought by the Turks among works of
Greek art found by them. Early Buddhism and early Chris-
tianity did not condemn all plastic art; but they did not orig-
inate great schools of art; they accepted that which was in
existence, and if they modified it, did so rather in the direction
of inward meaning than in that of outward manifestation,
their eyes being turned inwards towards the heart of man
rather than outwards towards the world. But Greek religion
was naturally closely allied with plastic art, and found in it
one of its chief fields of manifestation.
It has been too much the custom with those who have written
on Greek religion to treat it as an evolution in time; to regard
83
the types of the gods
Though Greek art is based ultimately upon the physical
beauty of the race, yet into its structure other elements are
built. It is in a sense religious, but in what sense needs to a
modern mind much explanation, the modern notions in regard
to religion being very different from those of the Greeks.
Most of the great religions of the world are either hostile
to plastic art, or at all events unjust to it. As we all know,
the second commandment of the Jewish Decalogue absolutely
prohibits the making of sculptural or pictorial representations
of any creature. Of those who in our churches repeat the
Commandment week by week, very few realize this fact, which
shows with how little attention we regard words said in church.
The Mohammedans take the Jewish view; and to the stricter
of them any representation of a living thing is anathema, whence
the terrible havoc wrought by the Turks among works of
Greek art found by them. Early Buddhism and early Chris-
tianity did not condemn all plastic art; but they did not orig-
inate great schools of art; they accepted that which was in
existence, and if they modified it, did so rather in the direction
of inward meaning than in that of outward manifestation,
their eyes being turned inwards towards the heart of man
rather than outwards towards the world. But Greek religion
was naturally closely allied with plastic art, and found in it
one of its chief fields of manifestation.
It has been too much the custom with those who have written
on Greek religion to treat it as an evolution in time; to regard
83