(Anon) - Poseidon (or Zeus) of Artemision bronze statue - art postcard

• Art Postcard

   

• Work of art title:  Poseidon (or Zeus) of Artemission, 460BC (The Artemision Bronze)
• Artist (if known): not known
• Media or other details:  bronze statue
• Publisher / Gallery: National Archaeological Museum, Athens, c.1970s
• Postally used:  no
• Stamp & postmark details (if relevant): n/a
• Size: Modern
• Notes & condition details: has slight marks on back only

NOTES:

Size: 'Modern' is usually around 6in x 4in / 'Old Standard' is usually around 5½in x 3½in. Larger sizes mentioned, but if you need to know the exact size please ask.

All postcards are not totally new and are pre-owned. It's inevitable that older cards may show signs of ageing and use, particularly sent through the post. Any faults other than normal ageing are noted.

Stock No.:A174

------------------------------------------------

Postage & Packing:

UK (incl. IOM, CI & BFPO): 99p

Europe: £1.60

Rest of world (inc. USA etc): £2.75

No additional charges for more than one postcard. You can buy as many postcards from me as you like and you will just pay the fee above once. (If buying postcards with other things such as books, please contact or wait for invoice before paying).

Payment Methods:

UK - PayPal, Cheque (from UK bank) or postal order

Outside UK: PayPal or Google Checkout ONLY please.   NO non-UK currency checks or money orders (sorry).

NOTE: All postcards are sent in brand new stiffened envelopes which I have bought for the task. These are specially made to protect postcards and you may be able to re-use them. In addition there are other costs to sending so the above charge is not just for the stamp!

----------------------------------------------

Text from the free encyclopedia WIKIPEDIA may appear below to give a little background information:

*************

The Artemision Bronze (often called the God from the Sea) is an ancient Greek sculpture that was recovered from the sea off Cape Artemision, in northern Euboea (Modern Greek ??ß??a, Évia). It represents either Zeus^[1] or Poseidon,^[2] slightly over lifesize,^[3] brandishing a missing thunderbolt (if Zeus) or trident (if Poseidon) with his raised right hand and sighting over his extended left hand.

The debate over whether the statue represents Poseidon or Zeus hinges on the lost attribute held in the right hand. As Caroline Houser writes, "Sometimes the Artemision protector is called 'Poseidon'. Those who would do so have been known to argue that the image must be that of the great sea god since the statue was found in the Mediterranean. But like other statues of totally different subjects, this one went into the sea simply because it was on board a ship that sank. Others cite the example of the Poseidonia coins, overlooking the much weightier evidence presented by the numerous surviving statuettes of Zeus launching his thunderbolt in a pose matching that of the Artemision figure."^[4] A major additional problem with that hypothesis is that a trident would obscure the face, especially from the profile view, which most scholars (even those who have supported an identification as Poseidon) have held to be the most, or even the only, important view. Iconographic parallels with coins and vase painting from the same time show that this obscuring pose is extremely unlikely. However, the trident may have been unusually short, avoiding the problem. On the other hand, the statue is essentially a larger version of an extensive series of smaller solid bronze figurines extending back into the late 7th century, all of which strike the same pose and represent Zeus.^[5] On the basis of this and other iconographic parallels with vase-painting,^[6] most scholars presently think it is a Zeus. However, opinion remains divided.

The god is caught at the moment of pause in the full potentiality of his coming movement, described by Carol Mattusch: "the figure has the potential for violence, is concentrating, poised to throw, but the action is just beginning, and we are left to contemplate the coming demonstration of strength."^[7] It is an original work of great strength in the Severe style that preceded the fifth-century classical style, dated to ca. 460 BCE. A comparison can be made with the Charioteer of Delphi, a roughly contemporaneous bronze.

Discussions concerning its provenance have found champions for most of the Greek mainland centers technically capable of such a large-scale sculpture: Attica