The National Museum of Korea presents its fourth world civilizations exhibition, "Gods, Heroes, Mortals: art and life in ancient Greece," in conjunction with the Chosunilbo newspaper. The exhibition is scheduled to take place from May 1 to Aug. 29, 2010.

 

Since relocating to Yongsan in 2005, the National Museum of Korea has been holding special exhibitions on an annual basis to introduce the great civilizations of the world. Following "Glory of Persia" in 2008 and "Egypt, the Great Civilization" and "The Great Myth and Mystery of Peruvian Civilization, INCA" in 2009, the "Gods, Heroes and Mortals: art and life in ancient Greece" exhibition spotlights Greek civilization. This latest exhibition was designed to shed light on the humanist thought of ancient Greece through the images of the human being that appear in ancient Greek art. Featuring 136 pieces in the collection of the British Museum, the exhibition is sure to offer a rare opportunity for visitors to understand ancient Greek arts.

 

The exhibition consists of four parts.

The first of these, "Gods, Heroes and Outsiders," deals with Greek gods and myths and is subdivided into three areas: "The Divine," "Herakles: Superman," and "Outsiders." In Greek myth, gods are presented as having human appearances and emotions. Images of Zeus, Hera and the other gods of Mount Olympos, immortal beings with superhuman powers, provide insight into how the Greeks conceived of deities. The hero Herakles, who was born human but overcome suffering and adversity to become a god himself, shows the values of the ancient Greeks, with their emphasis on physical training and athletic activity. In contrast with the human appearance of the gods of Olympos, Greek myth also includes a number of bizarre creatures. These savage and supernatural beings stand in contrast with Greece's civilized society and demonstrate the ancient world view as understood by the Greeks. Representative relics include statues of Zeus, Dionysos, Herakles and Sphinx, as well as pottery depicting the Twelve Labors of Herakles.

 

The second part, "The Human Form," highlights the appearance of the Greeks and their physical ideals. This part is subdivided into three areas: "The Male Body Beautiful," "Aphrodite and the Female Body," and "The Face." In Greek art, men were generally shown nude, while women were shown clothed. This signified that the healthy male body demonstrated the virtues of youth, and at the same time reflected the active lives of men and the cloistered lives of women. Until the 6th century B.C., Greek art depicted the human body in an abstract and simple way, but beginning in the 5th century B.C. it showed the body in more natural postures. The images of the human shown in Greek sculpture and pottery allow the viewer to appreciate Greek art and its emphasis on balance, rhythm and proportion. In addition to the representation of the idealized human form, this period also saw the development of portrait sculpture that gave shape to the characteristics of individuals. Representative works include statues of a kouros, or male youth, and a victorious athlete, as well as the figurine of a woman unearthed in the Cyclades, a statue of Aphrodite and the sculpted head of Chrysippos.

 

The third part, "Olympia and Athletics," examines the sanctuary of ancient Olympia, home of the Olympic Games, and presents images of the athletic competitions and athletes of the day. This part is subdivided into the areas of "Olympia" and "Athletes." A 1:200 scale model provides viewers with a three-dimensional view of Olympia, site of the Olympic festival, circa 100 B.C. The various athletic competitions of ancient Greece were part of training for battle and a social duty of physical discipline. The various scenes of athletic competition depicted in sculpture and on pottery allow the viewer to experience ancient Greek thought, which sought a healthy mind through a healthy body. Representative pieces include the discus-thrower, the model of Olympia, and an amphora honoring victory in the Panathenaic Games.

 

The fourth part, "Daily Life," sheds light on the journey of life for ancient Greeks, from birth through adulthood and marriage, as well as war and death. This part is subdivided into three areas: "Birth, Marriage and Death," "Sex and Desire," and "Character and Realism." As Greek children developed, they gradually became members of the family and the community. Women married and took care of the household, while men developed into citizen-soldiers and headed into the battlefield. This life cycle of the Greeks is clearly depicted through images on pottery, ornaments, armor, helmets and gravestones. Whereas early Greek art generalized the human form and chiefly depicted ruling class values, later art included depictions of people with a diverse range of appearances. This stemmed from interchange with various other peoples as a result of Alexander the Great's territorial expansion and conquest, and it meant that the Greek world had grown from a city-state, or "polis," into an empire. Representative pieces include gold ornaments, helmet and armor, a statue of Eros, a gravestone, a makeup case depicting images from a woman's daily life, a statue of Sokrates, and a statue of girls playing marbles.

[ Admission ]

	Adult	Middle/ High School Student	Elemen- tary School Student	Pre-Elementary Child	Special Discount	Free Admission
Individual	10,000	9,000	8,000	6,000	Senior (65 years or older)  5,000	-Aged under 48 months -Group chaperone (one teacher) -Patriots and veterans -Basic Livelihood Security recipients -Disabled individuals (Level 1-3)/  One companion of disabled  individual
Group (20 or more)	9,000	8,000	7,000	5,000

※ Patriots and veterans, Basic Livelihood Security recipients and disabled individuals can enter for free upon presentation of the appropriate certification.