Organized by the Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, with loans from museums in the United States and Europe, this exhibition of approximately 100 objects defines various types of ancient Greek heroes between the sixth and first centuries BCE.
What makes someone a hero or heroine? There is no easy answer to this question, neither today nor in ancient Greece. The media and society are quick to attach the label of hero or heroine to a variety of individuals—a soldier at war, a fireman at the World Trade Towers in New York City on September 11, 2001, a successful athlete, or an average person who acts selflessly or displays remarkable compassion. Our English word “hero” is derived from the Greek word heros, which linguistically and culturally represents the earliest concept of heroes in human history.
The exploits of ancient Greek heroes were recorded on all types of artworks—from large-scale architectural sculpture, to beautifully decorated pottery, to miniature gemstones and coins. This exhibition focuses on works from the Archaic (6th century BCE) and Classical (5th–4th century BCE) periods, with additional examples from the Hellenistic period (3rd–1st century BCE). The installation is divided into three thematic sections: Heroes in Myth, Heroes in Cult, and Emulation.
Heroes in Myth presents the life cycle of four heroes: Herakles, Helen, Odysseus, and Achilles—examples of the numerous heroes and heroines whose lives and deeds are recorded in Greek epic poetry and illustrated in Greek art. Heroes in Cult examines the worship of heroes as practiced in communities throughout ancient Greece. The last section, Emulation, considers heroes and heroines as role models for the ancient Greeks, in particular for women, athletes, warriors, and rulers.