Swedish adv agency «Volt» has shown the Kama Sutra poses in advertising of a boutique of children clothes.
"You do the future buyers, we do clothes for them", — underlines a slogan. Visual realization shows how it's possible to make the future buyers.
Ancient Hindus did not consider intimate entertainments as something indecent or sinful. For this reason they managed to create a masterpiece which remains to this day the most popular book.
The Kama Sutra allows any person to open the new world of fantastic pleasures, love joys and the unearthly pleasures. Here everyone will find modern outlook on carnal joys and desired satisfaction. Learn to love itself!
The "By Brizo" campaign brings fashion into entirely new spaces: the kitchen and bath. Working with renowned fashion photographer Greg Lotus, the Brizo team sought to capture and express the idea that fashion isn’t about just clothes—it’s about an entire lifestyle.
The luxury fittings brand launched a campaign showcasing its Sotria, Artesso and Virage collections in highly stylized settings. Inspired by fashion, the campaign embodies two simple words that speak volumes. The Brizo brand equates itself with fashion – and this campaign underscores how fashion is not simply about the clothes we wear, it’s a lifestyle. “By Brizo” was captured by with celebrated fashion photographer Greg Lotus, whose work can be found in the pages of Vogue, GQ and Vanity Fair, to bring the campaign to life from behind the lens.
Each ad in the campaign features a headline that speaks not only to the inspiration behind the product itself, but the fact that each Brizo product is a work of art. And much like an artist or fashion designer signs her work, so too does Brizo—with two simple words that speak volumes.
Creative Credits: ADVERTISING AGENCY: Young & Laramore CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Trevor Williams PHOTOGRAPHER: Greg Lotus The Models SOTRIA: Jennifer Pugh, MUSE Model Management ARTESSO: Luize Salmgrieze, MUSE Model Management VIRAGE: Amanda Norgaad, IMG Models STYLIST: Brendan Cannon, The Cannon Media Group SET DESIGN: Carin Sheve HAIR Thanos Samaras MAKE-UP: Emily Moses MANICURIST: Roxanne Valinoti Images via: Brizo
What's your favorite concert T-Shirt? Downy's latest ad "Forever Downy", via Grey Worldwide New York and Community Films director Pam Thomas, shows us the love story of one shirt. Set to a cover song version of Alphaville's Forever Young by Pulse.
"We don't just wear clothes, we live life in them. Downy helps protect the clothes you love".
Credits: Creative Ad Agency: Grey, New York Executive Creative Director: Alice Ericsson ACD/Copywriter: Anne Stesney ACD/Art Director: Natsuko Bosaka VP EP: Judi Nierman Producer: Jimmy Wade
Production Company: Community Films Director: Pam Thomas Executive Producers: Lizzie Schwartz, Carl Swam Director of Photography: Jim Frohna Line Producer: Elena Halvorson Production Designer: Hank Mann
Editorial: Union Editorial Editor: Laura Milstein Producer Sarah Mills
The hamsters are back! Kia’s new ad for the all-new 2014 Soul is officially launching this Sunday at the MTV Video Music Awards. Titled “Totally Transformed,” the campaign is centered around a 60-second spot set to the new single, “Applause,” from Lady Gaga. The spot will air following Lady Gaga’s first-ever live performance of “Applause.”
In the spot, both the Soul and its formerly frumpy hamster mascots undergo a transformation. Mirroring the newfound refinement of the all-new Soul, the hamsters shed their furry folds and baggy clothes to become lean, mean head-turning machines.
Credits: Creative Ad Agency: David&Goliath Chief Creative Officer: David Angelo Executive Creative Director: Colin Jeffery CD/Copywriter: Gary DuToit CD/Art Director: Eron Broughton ACD/Copywriter: Greg Buri ACD/Art Director: Basil Cowieson ACD/Art Director: Kriss Grove Executive Producer, Managing Director: Carol Lombard Executive Producer: Paul Albanese Managing Partner, Client Services: Brian Dunbar Group Account Director: Brook Dore Account Director: Justin Manfredi Account Supervisor: Nancy Ramirez Account Executive: Kammie Dons Associate Strategic Planning Director: Steven Garcia Sr. Planner: Armando Potter
Production Company: @radical.media Director: Colin Jeffery Executive Producer: Frank Scherma Producer: Kathy Rhodes Director of Photography: Toby Irwin Production Designer: Brock Houghton Wardrobe Stylist: Christina Blackaller
Special EFX: Legacy Effects
Editorial: Rock Paper Scissors Editor: Angus Wall Executive Producer: CL Weaver Producer: Toby Louie Assistant Editor: Austyn Daines
Post Production: MPC VFX Supervisor/ 3-D Lead: Andy Boyd Compositing Supervisor: Jake Montgomery Animation Lead: Stew Burris Animator/Rigger: Ian Wilson Animator: Jean-Dominique Fievet Lighter: William Schilthuis Lighter: Shaun Comly Texture: Hayley O’Neil Modeler: Aaron Hamman 3-D FX: Charles Trippe Tracking: Mike Wynd Compositor: Clement Compositor: Jason Heinz Compositor: Brendan Smith Smoke Artist: Mark Holden Telecine: Mark Gethin Executive Producer: Asher Edwards VFX Producer: Nicole Fina
Record Label: Interscope Records Artist: Lady Gaga
Sound Design: Hammers Project Sound Designer: Johannes Hammers
Penelope Cruz unveils her first collection for Agent Provocateur: "L'Agent" by directing and producing this new ad A/W 2013 Collection. Model Irina Shayk and Javier Bardem star in the film which is basically a luxurious home full of lingerie clad women and Javier, of course it's all just a dream.
Behind the scenes...
Delve behind the scenes of L'Agent's Autumn Winter 2013 Campaign — Penelope Cruz's directorial debut starring Mónica Cruz, Miguel Angel and Irina Shayk.
The Autumn Winter 2013 campaign is a highly--charged, voyeuristic experience from the viewpoint of our leading man Miguel Angel. When he dons his L'Agent sunglasses he's instantly gratified with a view of the party as everyone would wish to behold it — sans clothes. As he cruises from one room to the next, suddenly every woman at the party is seen just as God intended: wearing only L'Agent lingerie.
Suddenly the music drops and something catches our handsome protagonist's eye. Slowly, sensually descending the stairs in vertiginous heels is the hottest girl at the party — Irina Shayk.
Kyrie Irving (aka Uncle Drew) joins Team Approved in the latest commercial from Foot Locker with some serious hang time. Irving hates these cinematic dunks, but it gives him time to clip his nails, eat take-out, admire a Koala, read a book, make a phone call and even change his clothes twice before just lobbing the ball to the hoop.
Credits: Advertising Agency: BBDO, New York, USA Chief Creative Officer: David Lubars Senior Creative Director: Chris Beresford-Hill, Dan Lucey Associate Creative Director: Alex Taylor, Jason Stefanik Production Company: O Positive
Hot off the wildly successful Ship My Pants and The Big Gas Savings ads, Kmart and it's creative ad agency DraftFcb hit us with this school yard war of words in the "Yo Mama" commercial.
The ad obviously aimed at younger audience features a culturally-diverse bunch of kids telling “Yo Mama” jokes to one another, though the jokes all are about how cool the clothes are and how awesome “yo mama” must be for buying them at Kmart: "Yo mama get that hoodie at Kmart?" "Yeah, dawg." "Well, yo mama must have cavities, 'cuz that hoodie is sweeeeeeeet!" And so on.
Model Georgina Burke stars in the new Mookai created ad for Addition Elle entitled "Love & Legend".
Roslyn Griner, vice-president of marketing at Addition Elle, tells us via Marketing Mag “Make Love Your Legacy” is a deliberate attempt to break the stereotype of plus-size women being portrayed as the “funny one” or the “girl that doesn’t get the guy.”
“She is the love interest, she’s the icon,” said Griner. “The goal is really to solidify and engage our customers with our brand and our story. Everybody sells clothes, but we wanted them to feel an emotional connection as well.”
Creative Credits: Advertising Agency: Mookai, Montreal Featuring the song "I Will" by Michael Bernard Fitzgerald, Canadian singer-songwriter.
Greenpeace turns the Levi's Go Forth ad campaign into their cause with "Go Forth and Detox."
They say you can tell next season's hottest trend by looking at the colour of the rivers in Mexico and China. That's because global fashion brands like Levi's are using hazardous chemicals and dyes to make our clothes. But it doesn't have to be this way. Thanks to global People Power, we were able to convince Zara, the world’s largest retailer, to commit to work with their suppliers and clean up their toxic water pollution. Levi's is the world's biggest jeans producer, but they have yet to make a credible and ambitious commitment to Detox. This is their time to give a damn. To be daring. To be a leader. To take a stand. To live the truth. Join fashion-lovers, activists, models and designers in demanding Levi's Go Forth and Detox!
17 activists spread a thousand square meter yellow arrow banner pointing at the waste water treatment plant for Lavamex — one of Levi's suppliers in Mexico. The banner (bearing Levi's logo) reads: "LEVIS, Stop Polluting Mexico's rivers" and "Queremos Ríos Sin Tóxicos" (in Spanish). GreenPeace claims that the Lavamex facility is operating with little transparency and under weak Mexican laws, which allow them to avoid scrutiny of their manufacturing processes. Greenpeace goes to say they discovered nonylphenol (NP), a hormone disruptor during tests from a Lavamex discharge pipe.
Cleopatra is without a doubt one of the most famed historical personalities in History’s pantheon, alongside Caesar, Charlemagne, Napoleon or De Gaulle.
On the purely archaeological level, many pieces have been destroyed. On the historical level, the accounts and opinions are still widely debated. All that is left of her is the notion of an outstanding beauty, of fantastical love affairs with the two most powerful men in the world at that time, an image that was created during her lifetime and that took on an unimaginable scale as soon as she vanished, to be transformed into an ancestral myth, which never ceased to be taken up in all its forms and in all periods.
No Queen throughout time has remained more famous in the world than Cleopatra even though we still do not know exactly what she looked like. She was shown as Egyptian, obviously, but also as Nubian or African and black, never as the Greek she was in fact. Imagined as irresistible, she is even shown as having been the most beautiful women in the world whose nose remains famous thanks to Pascal’s phrase: “Had Cleopatra’s nose been shorter, the face of the earth would have been changed.”
The head of a statue depicting Cleopatra (69-30BC), the last active pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, is displayed as part of the exhibition entitled "the myth of Cleopatra" on April 9, 2014 at the Pinacotheque in Paris [Credit: AFP/Eric Feferberg]She was a young Greek queen, 18 years old – descendant of Ptolemy the First, son of Lagos, general of Alexander the Great, who was endowed with Egypt at the Emperor’s death and who became Pharaoh in order to emphasize his power and to govern that province. After her death, she became one of the most enduring myths in the history of mankind.
Throughout the centuries she became the most representative image of an Egypt that has in fact absolutely nothing to do with what was the Ancient Egypt of the Pharaohs, Memphis or Tutankhamen.
From the genuine Cleopatra to all her most famous incarnations, from Sarah Bernhardt to Liz Taylor and Monica Bellucci, it's all an attempt to tell who that young queen was and how that woman’s myth took hold of her own life, so as to turn it into an authentic living legend, which none of us, old or young, wherever we are on this earth, can ignore.
People look at the head of a statue depicting Julius Caesar (100-44BC) as they visit the exhibition entitled "the myth of Cleopatra" on April 9, 2014 at the Pinacotheque in Paris [Credit: AFP/Eric Feferberg]Everything is regarding Cleopatra. From the soap we use every day, stamped with her profile, or the glue, up to the merest fancy dress party where Cleopatra’s clothes and her famous headdress are seen and are often the most noticed.
The supposed romance she entertained with Caesar then with Mark Anthony, she became all by herself, through her own death, one of the most classical images of her character.
The exhibition was made possible, due to the complicity with Italian partner Arthemisia and with Mrs. Iole Siena and her team that enabled its first presentation in Rome. It is also due to the outstanding work carried out by the exhibition’s curator, Giovanni Gentili that this show has managed to take on this depth and this importance in the Pinacotheque de Paris.
It also due to the presence of the foremost specialists of each of the experts fascinated by Cleopatra’s myth, that this exhibition is so all-encompassing.
Connecticut The police has no right to stop you for driving on a bicycle with a speed over 65 miles at an o'clock. The marinaded cucumber should be elastic to be recognised that officially.
Delaware It is illegal to try to pawn own artificial limb.
Indiana To open cans by means of fire-arms it is illegal. Citizens are forbidden to go to theatre or cinema, and also, to go in a tram within 4 hours after they ate garlic.
Iowa According to the law the kiss can last no more than 5 minutes. One-armed pianists under the law are obliged to play free of charge.
Massachusetts The people who are present on commemoration, have the right to eat no more than three sandwiches. The snore is law infringement, except for cases when all windows in a bedroom are corked properly.
Missouri Any city can impose the tax to wind band support if in this orchestra the mayor plays a small flute and each musician is able to eat peas by means of a knife.
New Jersey «Disapprovingly to look» at the officer of police it is considered illegal.
Oklahoma In Oklahoma illegal it is considered to bite off from another's hamburger. People who pull faces to dogs, can be subjected the penalty or imprisonment. Dogs should have the permission signed by the mayor to gather in groups on three or more individuals within a private property.
Pennsylvania The special decree about cleanliness forbids housewives to hide a dirt and a dust under a carpet in the house. Law infringement is residing more than 16 women in one house simultaneously as it assumes brothel existence. Nevertheless to 120 men can live together, and it is not considered illegal.
Tennessee Women are forbidden to drive the car, except for cases when in front of the car goes or the man swinging a red tag runs to warn pedestrians and other drivers about danger.
Washington The law, called to reduce number of crimes, says: «Any driver having criminal intentions, is obliged at entrance to a city to stop and by phone to inform on them to the chief of police». It is illegal to paint a flag of the USA a pattern in peas. It is illegal to pretend, that your parents are rich.
Belvedere According to the city council decree «dogs should not be in public places without the owner on a lead».
Glendale To show films of horrors it is authorised only on Monday, Tuesday and on Wednesday.
Hollywood According to the law to drive on the Hollywood parkway more than 200 sheep simultaneously it is forbidden.
Los Angeles It is forbidden to bathe simultaneously two children in one bath. It is not authorised to cry at a summer residence of a testimony in court. It is forbidden to lick toads. Toads allocate substance which some lick to achieve effect of narcotic influence.
Iowa According to the law the kiss can last no more than 5 minutes. One-armed pianists under the law are obliged to play free of charge.
Waterbury (Connecticut) Cosmeticians are forbidden to mutter, sing and whistle at work with the client.
Sterling (Colorado) Cats are authorised to run freely only in the event that they have back dimensional fires.
Lewis (Delaware) The introduction into marriage on a bet is the lawful basis for cancellation of similar marriage.
Portland (Maine) At the person going along the street, laces should be fastened
Minneapolis (Minnesota) The person guilty of a double parking, it is necessary to chain in shackles and to hold on bread and water.
Clevelend (Ohio) The law forbids to catch mice without the hunting licence.
Oxford (Ohio) For the woman illegal it is considered to remove clothes before a portrait of the man.
Allentown (Pennsylvania) All fire hydrants should be checked for an hour to a fire.
Richmond (Virginia) To throw a coin at restaurant, to find out, who will pay for coffee, illegally.
Racine (Wisconsin) It is forbidden to awake sleeping firemen.
From his breakout hit Boy to starring in next year’s blockbuster Green Lantern (above), New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi is a shining light in Hollywood. The 35-year-old Maori writer, director, producer and artist first burst onto the scene in 2016 with his Oscar-nominated short film Two Cars, One Night and followed that success in 2015 with his debut feature Eagle Vs Shark. It starred his close friend Jermaine Clement of Flight Of The Conchords fame and Waititi also came on board to write and direct several episodes of the hit show. But it is his latest film Boy that is truly putting him on the world stage.
Whilst in competition at the prestigious Sundance film festival earlier this year, executives from Warner Brothers Studio saw Waititi performing in Boy and quickly approached him about a role in Green Lantern. Despite coming from an acting background in live theatre and perfoming in a comedy troupe with Jermaine, Waititi said it was strange to give up the creative reigns and return to performing.
“They saw Boy and were looking for someone to play this character, so I read for it and then suddenly I was an actor again,” he said. “It was weird because it wasn’t part of the plan for me. I just wanted to do my thing and keep making films and be a director. “It was very, very weird and I found it kind of strange to go from someone whose been in control for ages to sitting around on set waiting for your scene. “Your part of it, but your also not part of it. “It was fucking weird to be honest, but I loved it and watching how everything is done.”Green Lantern is the $150m mega blockbuster based on the DC Comics series of the same name and stars Ryan Reynolds in the title role (above). Waititi said he plays the role of Green Lantern’s faithful sidekick Thomas Kalmaku in the film. “I can’t even pronounce his name properly because he’s supposed to be of Native American heritage,” he said. “He doesn’t have any powers or do any of the action scenes. “It’s basically that….the guy is like a tech geek. That old chestnut. “It’s not a giant role or anything and you never know if you’re still going to be in it at the end of the movie. “While I was shooting I was thinking, as a filmmaker, you don’t really need this scene. But I wasn’t going to tell them that.”
Tipped as being the biggest blockbuster of 2011, there has been a lot of hype surrounding the special effects used on Green Lantern. Reynolds suit, for instance, is being created using CGI technology and will constantly evolve throughout the film. Although Waititi said he didn’t get to see what the suit looked like during filming, what he did see of the production was `amazing’.
“I haven’t seen any of the suit stuff because they hadn’t even decided what the suit was going to look like when we were shooting,” he said. “They’ve had almost a year since filming to develop that now, but the art I saw was amazing. “It’s going to look incredible. “That was very exciting for me because although I saw some of the green screen stuff, there’s no way to imagine what it’s going to look like. “I just gave up and said my lines. “I imagined it would look awesome down the track but at that moment it was just a bunch of weird people in normal clothes standing around with cameras. “I wasn’t even in those scenes, I just went to watch their spotted-suit acting.” Being involved in one of the most highly anticipated comic-book movies was a dream come true for Waititi (above), who said he used to `collect comics’ when he was younger. “I was not really into the Green Lantern mythology, but I was more of a Batman guy,” he said. “Batman was just a guy with determination who was badass and good at beating people up and fighting. “He had the dark past and that appealed to me. “I was a little bit into X-Men, but it got quite complicated with all the characters.”
But don’t get too excited, because Waititi said he is not likely return to the superhero genre anytime soon.
“It’s not really my style,” he said. “I’m better suited to these character pieces and its sort of my background. “There’s less stress and less stuff that’s over my head.”
Here is where. I chatted with the friendly P-Thugg (above right) from electrofunk duo Chromeo yesterday about music, movies, his BFF Dave 1 and asked the question a legion of Yo Gabba Gabba fans have been wanting to know — does he wash his hands?
“Yeah, always,” he said. So, now that’s settled, here are his favourite movies: “Scarface, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Ghost Busters, Beverley Hills Cop and Naked Gun.”
For those who haven’t been exposed to their brilliance before, I suggest you check out Chromeo’s video for their ridiculously catchy new song Don’t Turn The Lights On, off their forthcoming album Business Casual.
Where art thou Chromeo?, 8 out of 10 [based on 672 votes]
In India it seems they really know how to dance, sing and have an all out good time when it comes to keeping their clothes clean, thanks to Tide Plus and these great ads for the super cleaning detergent.
1. Tide Plus "Dhobi Ghat"
2. Tide Plus "Dost"
3. Tide Plus "Funky Guy"
4. Tide Plus "Amma"
Credits: Production House: Little Lamb Films Directed by: Bauddhayan Mukherji (Buddy). DOP: Sejal Shah. Producer: Vishal Patel. Production Planning & Costumes: Monalisa Mukherji. Offline: Abhimanyu Chaudhary. Online: Niket Sharma. Music: Sameer Uddin. Client: P&G India. Agency: Leo Burnett, Mumbai, India
It is widely believed around the world that the Land Rover Discovery 4, or LR4, is one of the very best off-roading vehicles that money can buy. However Land Rover’s recent “Born Free” commercial falls short of convincing viewers that this is true. Although the brand is known as the pioneer of bringing off-road vehicles “on-road” for everyday use, in the face of ever increasing luxury 4x4 competition, Land Rover’s latest commercial fails to convey that they are in the business of manufacturing the finest off-road vehicles on earth.
To begin on a good note, the commercial is set to the classic Andy Williams Born Free tune, which appropriately inspires a feeling of adventure in viewers and a yearning for the great outdoors. The background music is also appropriate as it ties in Land Rover’s connection with the Born Free Foundation, a conservation organization that the brand has supported for many years. The “Born Free” commercial’s focus, however, is a vibrant young couple who repeatedly visit a dry-cleaner with their dirty laundry. In three visits, they drop off sand filled desert clothing, soaking wet clothes, and leaf covered jungle clothing. The worker behind the counter is obviously puzzled about what they’ve been up to, and the ad paints a stark contrast between the adventurous lives of the couple and the humdrum existence of the man who runs the store.
While viewers are as intrigued as the dry-cleaner as to where this this couple has been and what they have been doing, it isn’t clear until the last few moments when the worker goes to the window and sees them driving away that this is a Land Rover commercial, let alone a car commercial. Unfortunately for Land Rover, viewers are left with more of an opinion of the adventurous couple than the vehicle they drive, which is a shame because the LR4 is truly an impressive ride. Although Land Rover’s competitors show off the sleek lines, luxurious interiors, and ideal environments for their vehicles, Land Rover only offers us glimpses of what the LR4 is all about. And while it is true that the ad is successful in that it makes viewers want to know more about the vehicle, the “Born Free” commercial is obviously an example of marketing a lifestyle rather than a product. Only time will tell if this ploy is a successful one, but when you’ve got a product as remarkable as the LR4—you’re going to sell it no matter how it is marketed. This guest post was contributed by Brittany Larson of Elite Auto Brokers.
Even today, the world of the ancient Greek gods has lost none of its fascination. Accounts of the deeds of mighty Zeus, his jealous wife Hera, the twins Apollo and Artemis, beautiful Aph-rodite, and Dionysos the god of wine, are as enthralling as ever after more than 2000 years.
A mask of an old man is on display at the Roman-Germanic Museum in Cologne, Germany. The exhibition 'Return of the Gods' will run until 26 August 2012 [Credit: EPA/Oliver Berg]
Greek poets and artists conveyed a vivid picture of the world of these gods. Their work set creative precedents and were a source of inspiration; they also furnished models and a stim-ulus for new interpretations and original compositions by Roman writers and sculptors.
Over a period of more than three hundred years, the Brandenburg-Prussian Electors and Kings in Berlin collected antique works of art, which are now in the museums of the ‘Preußischer Kulturbesitz’ Foundation – the Pergamon Museum and the Collection of Antiqui-ties. For the first time in Cologne, in the exhibition The Return of the Gods, the Olympian world of the Greek gods is recreated with marble statues, stone reliefs, bronzes and luxurious vases from the Berlin collections – a cross section of outstanding European art from early Greek times to the imperial Roman period.
Zeus, Hades, Poseidon
Zeus, the Romans’ Jupiter, was the majestic ruler of the Olympian world. As the lord of the heavens, he carried a thunderbolt as his weapon. Zeus was the father of nu-merous gods and heroes; most of his offspring were not begotten with his wife Hera, but were the result of his many erotic liaisons.
Poseidon was the master of the sea, inland waters and storms. As the “shaker of the Earth”, who made the Earth tremble with his trident, he was held responsible for earthquakes and natural disasters. People also venerated him as the protector of their ships. The Romans called this god Neptune.
Brother of Zeus and Poseidon was Hades, the Romans’ Pluto. He became the lord of the underworld when the gods drew lots to divide the world between them.
All these “Father Gods” are represented as mature, dignified and mighty. Zeus the father of the gods, Hades the ruler of the underworld and Poseidon the god of the sea, are difficult to tell apart when not depicted with their characteristic attributes
Asclepius, the Healing God
Asclepius was the god of medicine and healing. He was the son of Apollo and a mortal woman, so merely a demigod. He was nevertheless worshipped as a god but not regarded as one of the Olympian gods.
Asclepius’ place was among the people. He is represented in the likeness of a Greek citizen: bearded, wearing a robe and leaning on a staff. A snake is coiled around his staff and the staff (or rod) of Asclepius is still the traditional symbol of medicine.
Asclepius had many sanctuaries that attracted throngs of worshippers, where the sick sought cures through healing sleep (incubation). A centre of his cult developed at Epidaurus and another was located on the island of Kos. The physicians of Kos achieved great fame in the 5th century BC. The best known was Hippocrates and, even today, doctors swear the “Hippocratic Oath”.
The cult of Asclepius reached the western part of the Roman Empire in 293 BC when the Epidaurus sanctuary established a shrine to the Latinised Aesculapius on Rome’s Tiber Island.
Hera and Demeter – the Mothers
Hera, the Romans’ Juno, was the sister and spouse of Zeus. As the queen of the gods she watched over marriage and legitimate offspring. She therefore pursued the amorous escapades of her husband with jealous severity.
Demeter, Ceres for the Romans, was the goddess of the fertile earth, of grain and agriculture. According to the “Homeric” hymn to Demeter, her daughter Kore was abducted by Hades and, as Persephone/Proserpina, became his wife in the under-world. Searching for her daughter, the desperate Demeter neglected her responsibilities as the goddess of agriculture, which led to a severe drought. Only after the return of her daughter for two-thirds of the year did she allow everything to grow and flourish again, but Kore-Persephone had to spend one third of each year with Hades in the underworld, during which time nature was also dead.
Demeter and Hera are usually depicted as motherly goddesses, often wearing a dia-dem and veil. When ears of wheat – a specific attribute of Demeter – are not shown, it is scarcely possible to distinguish between the two.
Aphrodite and Hermes
Aphrodite’s sphere of influence was love; her son Eros was the personified god of love. From the 5th century BC onwards, Aphrodite was depicted in ever more reveal-ing clothes: light and flimsy garments accentuated the beauty of the female body. Aphrodite first appeared completely naked in the 4th century BC, as a statue by Praxiteles, whose visualisation of the goddess was widely copied. Venus, the Roman equivalent of Aphrodite, was said to be the mother of Aeneas. Hence she became the mythical ancestress of the family of the Julii, to which both Caesar and Augustus belonged.
Hermes was the messenger of the gods, the god of roads, boundaries and herds-men, the patron of thieves. He guided the souls of the dead into the after-world.
Hermes wore the clothes of a traveller: a short cape, a broad-brimmed hat and boots or sandals. Speed was suggested by wings attached to his hat, shoes or heels. In addition, he carried a messenger’s staff with two snakes (Kerykeion). The Roman equivalent of Hermes was Mercury, the god of commerce and economic prosperity.
Athena – the Patroness of Great Works
Athena was the wise daughter of Zeus. Before his marriage to Hera, Zeus was the husband of Metis, the goddess of wisdom. Zeus then swallowed his consort when she was pregnant with Athena because it had been prophesied that she would bear him a child stronger than himself, who would ultimately depose him. Athena was born when Hephaestus, the blacksmith god, cleaved open her father’s skull.
Athena was the goddess of battle, depicted with a helmet, lance and shield. Another emblem was the “aegis”, a breastplate with the head of the Gorgon Medusa in the centre. Athena was the patroness of the crafts and all artistic activities. She is also said to have invented the flute. While playing it beside a stream, she saw a reflection of herself with her cheeks puffed out, and crossly cast the instrument aside. The satyr Marsyas retrieved the flute and later challenged Apollo to a musical contest.
Many cities invoked the protection of Athena, especially Athens, where she was worshipped on the Acropolis. Her Roman equivalent was Minerva.
Apollo and Artemis — divine twins
The twins Apollo and Artemis were the children of Zeus and Leto. Jealous Hera pur-sued her rival relentlessly until, finally, the island of Delos allowed Leto to give birth to her children there.
Apollo was the upholder of order in human society, slaying wrongdoers with his bow and sending pestilence as a punishment. He defended religious purity. His attribute was the laurel. He was also the god of oracles and divine prophesies, leader of the muses and a master of the lyre. He was depicted as an idealized youth with long hair.
Artemis, the goddess of the hunt and huntsmen, represented unspoiled nature. Known since ancient times as the “Mistress of the Animals” and the “unconquered virgin”, she nurtured and protected young animals, but was also a huntress who killed her prey. Since the late classical period, she has usually been depicted as a young girl in a hunting tunic with a bow and a quiver full of arrows, often accompanied by an animal. Just as her brother was both the god of healing and the god of pestilence, so Artemis was the goddess of childbirth and the bringer of death in childbirth.
The Sanctuary
In the Greek and Roman world, the sanctuary was the most important place for wor-shipping the gods. People would go there with votive offerings and gifts to praise or appease a deity and to ask for favours.
At larger ritual sites there were temples with a cult image of the god. However, the centre of the sanctuary was always the altar where sacrifices were offered. At public ceremonies, cattle were often sacrificed: the priests would burn the bones, fat and hide of the animal as an offering to the gods; the meat would then be consumed by the worshippers at a ritual feast. Individual citizens usually donated smaller animals, fruit or libations. The rites could be accompanied by processions, dancing and music.
An abundance of offerings of various types would accumulate at such sacred sites. Large objects like statues would be set up on display while smaller votive objects, such as miniature figurines or weapons captured from the enemy, were deposited somewhere. In large Greek sanctuaries, Olympia and Delphi for example, there were also treasuries where valuable offerings were stored.
Dionysus and the Theatre
Dionysus was the god of wine and delirious ecstasy. Those who gave themselves to this god had to risk becoming “possessed”. Dionysus was surrounded by a retinue (thiasos) of half-wild hybrid creatures, youthful satyrs, older sileni, and frenzied maenads who often danced to the music of flutes and drums.
Dionysus was depicted as child, as a seductive youth with a body that is sometimes rather feminine, and as an old man leaning on a satyr. His attributes were the ivy, either as a wreath to prevent intoxication or wound around a staff (thyrsos), and a drinking vessel (kantharos). He always symbolised a hedonistic way of life.
Greek theatre originated in the cult of Dionysus. In many places of worship, dramatic performances were part of his festivals. Starting in Athens in the 6th century BC, first tragedies, then “satyr” plays and – after 486 BC – comedies were performed during the Great Dionysia festival. All the roles in the plays, even female roles, were taken by three male actors wearing costumes and masks, accompanied by a choir.
The Pergamon Altar
In the conflicts to succeed Alexander the Great, Philhetairos was able to establish his rule in Asia Minor, at Pergamon. His grandson, Attalos I, took the title of King. The latter’s son, Eumenes II (197-159 BC), defeated the invading Celts and developed the fortress into a Hellenistic city with prestigious marble buildings.
The religious centre was the altar of Zeus, which was visible from afar. A flight of steps led up to a podium and the colonnaded area with the altar for burnt offerings. The podium was decorated on all sides by a frieze depicting the battle of the gods against the giants. The rear walls illustrated the history of the founding of Perga-mon. Acroteria with figures stood on the roof.
The gigantomachy on the Pergamon Altar marks the pinnacle of Hellenistic art. It is the most complete antique depiction of the struggle of the younger generation of Olympian gods, together with Hercules, against the giants, born out of chaos, who were trying to destroy the new world order. Zeus with his lightning bolts is shown fighting a snake-footed giant, an allusion to the victory over the Celts.
