Greek visual sources: Persians and Amazons

Introduction: Seeing the "Other"

Welcome to one of the most exciting parts of the Invention of the Barbarian module! In this chapter, we aren't just reading texts; we are looking at how the ancient Greeks used art to tell stories about themselves and their enemies. After the Persian Wars, the Greeks developed a specific way of "seeing" non-Greeks (barbarians). They used visual stereotypes to make themselves look brave, orderly, and masculine, while making their enemies look exotic, soft, or chaotic.

We will look at two types of "barbarians" in Greek art: the historical (the Persians) and the mythical (the Amazons). By studying these sources, you'll see how the Greeks used myth to process their real-world history.

The Historical Barbarian: Persians in Art

When the Greeks depicted Persians, they wanted to emphasize the polarity (the total opposite) between the two cultures. You need to know two specific sources for the historical Persian:

1. Red-figure kylix by the Triptolemos Painter

This is a drinking cup (kylix) that shows a Greek hoplite fighting a Persian soldier. It is a perfect "freeze-frame" of the Greek view of the war.

• The Greek: He is usually depicted as dominant, often physically "above" the Persian, showing Greek superiority.
• The Persian: He wears anaxyrides (patterned trousers) and a long-sleeved tunic. To a Greek audience, wearing trousers was a sign of being "un-manly" or "soft."
• The Contrast: The Greek fights with a spear and shield (up-close and brave), while the Persian is often shown with a bow or a curved sword (the kopis), which the Greeks associated with fighting from a distance—a sign of cowardice in their eyes.

2. South Frieze of the Temple of Athena Nike

Located on the Acropolis in Athens, this is a massive piece of public propaganda. Unlike most temple art that shows myths, this frieze shows a real event: the Battle of Plataea (479 BC).

• Realism: It shows Greeks fighting Persians. The Persians are easily identified by their clothing (trousers and sleeves).
• The Message: By placing this on a temple to "Victory" (Nike), the Athenians were telling the world that their defeat of the "Barbarian" was a divinely sanctioned triumph of Greek order over Persian "slavery."

Key Takeaway: Persians are visually defined by their exotic clothing and their defeat by the superior Greek hoplite.

The Mythical Barbarian: The Amazons

Why did the Greeks paint Amazons? Because Amazons were the "mythical mirror" of the Persians. They were everything a Greek woman was not: they were warriors, they lived without men, and they came from the East. By showing Greek heroes defeating Amazons, the Greeks were symbolically showing their victory over the "unnatural" East.

1. Attic red-figure krater by Euphronios (Heracles and the Amazons)

This early vase shows the hero Heracles fighting the Amazons. Interestingly, in this earlier style, the Amazons look very much like Greek hoplites! They wear similar armor, which shows that the specific "barbarian" uniform of trousers hadn't become the standard visual shorthand yet. However, the fact that they are women fighting men already marks them as "barbarians" (those who break the natural order).

2. Attic red-figure kylix by the Penthesilea Painter (Achilles and Penthesilea)

This is a very famous and emotional piece. It shows the moment the Greek hero Achilles kills the Amazon Queen, Penthesilea, at the Trojan War.

• The Tragedy: The artist captures the moment their eyes meet. Legend says Achilles fell in love with her the exact moment he killed her.
• Visual Power: Penthesilea is collapsing, looking up at her conqueror. It reinforces the idea of the Greek male dominating the Barbarian female.

3. Lucanian red-figure bell-krater (Battle of Achilles and Penthesileia)

This later vase shows a similar scene but emphasizes the Amazonomachy (the battle between Greeks and Amazons). By this point, Amazons are often shown in more "Persian-style" clothing, linking the myth directly to the real-world enemies the Greeks had just fought.

4. Frieze of the Temple of Apollo at Bassae

This is a high-energy, chaotic stone carving. It shows the Amazonomachy in great detail.

• The Style: The figures are muscular and the drapes of their clothing are very dramatic (this is called "wet look" drapery).
• The Theme: It shows the total chaos of war. Even though the Amazons fight bravely, the Greek heroes (like Heracles) are shown as the stabilizing force that brings "order" back to the world.

Comparison Table: How to Spot a Barbarian

In the exam, you might be asked to describe how an artist has depicted a barbarian. Use this "checklist" of visual tropes:

Important Memory Trick: The "Mirror" Concept

Don't worry if you find it hard to remember why there are so many Amazons in a course about Persians! Just remember this: The Amazon is a "Mythological Persian."

If the Greeks wanted to brag about beating the Persians without being too literal, they painted a Gorgonomachy or an Amazonomachy. It allowed them to say: "We have always been the protectors of civilization against the chaos of the East."

Quick Review: Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Mistake: Thinking all Amazons wear trousers.
  Correction: In early art (like the Euphronios krater), they often look like Greek soldiers. The "trouser look" became more popular after the Persian Wars.
• Mistake: Confusing the Triptolemos Painter with the Penthesilea Painter.
  Correction: Remember: Triptolemos = Trousers (Historical Persian). Penthesilea = Pity/Pain (The dying Amazon Queen).
• Mistake: Forgetting the "Slave vs. Free" polarity.
  Correction: In almost all these sources, the Greek represents Freedom (fighting for his home), while the Barbarian represents Slavery (fighting because a King told them to). Look for this in the posture of the figures!

Final Summary for Revision:

The visual sources for H408/23 teach us that the Greeks used art as a tool for identity building. By creating a specific "Barbarian Look" (trousers, bows, caps, defeat), they reinforced their own identity as "Greeks" (nude, spears, helmets, victors). Whether it was a historical Persian on a temple or a mythical Amazon on a wine cup, the message was the same: The Greek way of life is superior.