“The Parthenon Metopes are
more successful at showing the
power of civilisation over
barbarity than the Bassae
Frieze.” To what extent do you
agree?
(8 marks)
I agree with this statement to a small extent, however I do think that the Bassae
Frieze shows the power of civilisation over barbarity more successfully, as it is
more dramatic and makes the Greeks’ victory against the Amazons seem more
impressive and laudable.
Firstly, both the Parthenon Metopes and the Bassae Frieze clearly show a fight
between the Greeks and their opposition (either the centaurs or the Amazons),
through the aggressive and dynamic stances of everyone depicted. In both the
frieze and the metopes, the differences between the Greeks and their barbaric
opposition are emphasized, making it very clear to the viewer who is Greek and
who is not. In Source A, the Amazons are made very recognisable and contrast
from the Greeks, even from a distance from their loose clothing, which often
flows dramatically, filling up the space well – though the drapery tends to be
more baroque than realistic. On the other hand, the Greeks are portrayed in
heroic nudity, without clothes or armour In the Parthenon Metopes, the centaurs
are made easily distinguishable from the Greeks through their large horse-
bodies, emphasizing the fact that they are half-animal and therefore barbaric.
Additionally, the centaurs all have rather long and unkempt beards as seen in
Source B, in contrast to the beardless and idolised Greeks. This suggest that the
centaurs are not civilised enough to cut them. This could relate to how the
centauromachy began because the centaurs were not civilised enough to dilute
their wine, and therefore became very drunk. In this way, the high relief
sculptures convey elucidate that both the Amazons and the centaurs only cause
strife and chaos through their barbarity, and so, the power of civilisation (the
Greeks) must fight against them to stop this.
In both the Bassae Frieze and the Parthenon metopes, the Greeks have been
presented very similarly, despite being on completely different temples. In both
sources, the Greek fighters are presented as idealised, all of them young,
beardless and muscular in heroic nudity. The fact that they are all portrayed so
similarly, could suggest that the Greeks are all a strong, civilised and united front
against barbarity. Furthermore, the only way to differentiate between each Greek
more successful at showing the
power of civilisation over
barbarity than the Bassae
Frieze.” To what extent do you
agree?
(8 marks)
I agree with this statement to a small extent, however I do think that the Bassae
Frieze shows the power of civilisation over barbarity more successfully, as it is
more dramatic and makes the Greeks’ victory against the Amazons seem more
impressive and laudable.
Firstly, both the Parthenon Metopes and the Bassae Frieze clearly show a fight
between the Greeks and their opposition (either the centaurs or the Amazons),
through the aggressive and dynamic stances of everyone depicted. In both the
frieze and the metopes, the differences between the Greeks and their barbaric
opposition are emphasized, making it very clear to the viewer who is Greek and
who is not. In Source A, the Amazons are made very recognisable and contrast
from the Greeks, even from a distance from their loose clothing, which often
flows dramatically, filling up the space well – though the drapery tends to be
more baroque than realistic. On the other hand, the Greeks are portrayed in
heroic nudity, without clothes or armour In the Parthenon Metopes, the centaurs
are made easily distinguishable from the Greeks through their large horse-
bodies, emphasizing the fact that they are half-animal and therefore barbaric.
Additionally, the centaurs all have rather long and unkempt beards as seen in
Source B, in contrast to the beardless and idolised Greeks. This suggest that the
centaurs are not civilised enough to cut them. This could relate to how the
centauromachy began because the centaurs were not civilised enough to dilute
their wine, and therefore became very drunk. In this way, the high relief
sculptures convey elucidate that both the Amazons and the centaurs only cause
strife and chaos through their barbarity, and so, the power of civilisation (the
Greeks) must fight against them to stop this.
In both the Bassae Frieze and the Parthenon metopes, the Greeks have been
presented very similarly, despite being on completely different temples. In both
sources, the Greek fighters are presented as idealised, all of them young,
beardless and muscular in heroic nudity. The fact that they are all portrayed so
similarly, could suggest that the Greeks are all a strong, civilised and united front
against barbarity. Furthermore, the only way to differentiate between each Greek
