Classical Zeus

The supreme god of the ancient Athenian pantheon, Zeus was often the subject of Athenian art, especially in vase painting and sculpture, as well as a dominant figure in Greek myths and legends. This book presents a detailed study of the depiction of Zeus in one particular classical Athenian art for--the red-figured vase. Offering a close comparison of the artistic and literary versions of the myths surrounding Zeus, including the Gigantomachy, births of the other gods, libations and offerings to the gods, and the Judgement of Paris, Arafat here examines the narrative technique of allusion against the artistic portrayals of Zeus in a contemporary religious and political context. Juxtaposing vase painting with other art forms, Arafat distinguishes the function of the different social contexts in which Zeus appears, exploring the role that the study of vase painting plays in the reconstruction of lost sculpture.