Wonderful Monsters

During the 7th century B.C., the art of the Ancient Near East heavily influenced Greek archaic art. Orientalizing art was characterized by new ornamental motifs, such as monsters and exotic animals. Panthers and lions, for example, were frequently depicted on Corinthian pottery, which was typical of the period. Additionally, architectural decorations in the shape of lions were used in temples as magical and protective creatures against evil. An astonishing example of this is the famous Terrace of the Lions on Delos – a monumental avenue flanked on both sides by lions carved in marble, which protected worshippers on their way to the great sanctuary of Apollo and Artemis.

Centaurs are mythological creatures with the body of a horse and a human torso. They are known for their brutal habits, such as consuming raw meat and pure wine, and living in mountainous regions and forests. Many myths recount their battles against Greek heroes like Herakles and Theseus. However, among the most famous centaurs, Chiron and Pholos stand out from their peers for not being wild. Chiron, in particular, was wise and learned, serving as a tutor to both Achilles and Jason.

The Chimera is a three-headed monster, the offspring of Typhon and Echidna, with the head and body of a lion, a goat’s head on its back, and a snake as its tail. In Greek mythology, it was killed by Bellerophon, who rode the winged horse Pegasus. The oldest description of the Chimera appears in Homer’s Iliad.

The three Gorgon sisters – Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa – are the terrifying daughters of marine deities. They are depicted with snake hair, large tusks, bronze hands, and golden wings. Medusa, the only mortal among them, had the power to petrify anyone who looked at her, but she was beheaded by Perseus. Her severed head was then placed on the shield of Athena, who used it as a weapon. In ancient times, the Gorgon’s face was seen as apotropaic, warding off evil, and was often depicted on architectural decorations, like antefixes, for its protective and magical function.

Griffins are legendary creatures with the head and powerful wings of an eagle and the body of a lion. Ancient Greeks believed they inhabited remote areas like Scythia or India. In Greek mythology, griffins guard precious treasures, such as gold and Dionysus’ krater filled with wine. One legend even tells of griffins guarding Apollo’s gold against the mythical people known as the Arimaspi. In Apulian art of the 4^th century B.C., griffins were depicted as guardians of the afterlife, protecting the deceased.

In ancient Greece, a ketos was a type of sea monster depicted in various forms. The ketos on display in temporary art is shown as a crocodile with a long, crested snout, globular and protruding eyes, a half-open maw, and triangular teeth. Among the most famous sea monsters are Scylla and Charybdis from Homer’s Odyssey, who resided in the Strait of Messina and devoured all ships passing by.

The Minotaur, a creature with a human body and the head of a bull, was born from Pasiphae, wife of King Minos of Crete, and a bull. The architect Daedalus built a complex labyrinth for King Minos to hide the monster, for whom fourteen young Athenians were sacrificed annually. Finally, the Minotaur was slain by Theseus, the son of King Aegeus of Athens, with the help of Ariadne, Minos’ daughter. Depictions of Theseus battling the Minotaur were popular on black-figure pottery.

A kylix is a distinctive wine-drinking cup used in symposia, notable for its wide and shallow basin, two horizontal handles, and tall foot. A particular type of kylix, known as the “eye-cup,” features a pair of large apotropaic eyes on the outer surface, possibly to ward off evil. When drinking from the “eye-cup,” it would appear as if the drinker were wearing a mask. Similar apotropaic eyes were also painted on ship keels.

Pegasus, the winged horse, was born from the blood of the beheaded Medusa alongside Chrysaor. According to one version of the myth, Pegasus was the child of Poseidon and Medusa, while another version claims Pegasus emerged from the earth fertilized by Medusa’s blood. The name “Pegasus” is derived from the ancient Greek term for “spring,” as the horse was said to have been born near the springs of Ocean in the far West. Pegasus accompanies several heroes in Greek mythology, including Perseus and Bellerophon.

The Sphinx is a female monster with the head of a woman, the body and tail of a lion, and two large wings. Sent by Hera to punish Thebes for the offenses of King Laius, the Sphinx terrorized the city, challenging passersby with a riddle and killing those who failed to solve it. According to Diodorus Siculus, the Sphinx’s riddle was, “What goes on four feet in the morning, two feet at midday, and three feet in the evening?”. Oedipus, Laius’ son, solved the riddle by realizing it referred to humans, prompting the Sphinx, in despair, to throw herself from a cliff.