Table Of ContentAesthetic Experiences and Classical Antiquity
In this bold book, Jonas Grethlein proposes a new dialogue between
the fields of Classics and Aesthetics. Ancient material, he argues,
has the capacity to challenge and re-orientate current debates. Com-
parisons with modern art and literature help to balance the histori-
cism of classical scholarship with transcultural theoretical critique.
Grethlein discusses ancient narratives and pictures in order to explore
the nature of aesthetic experience. While our responses to both narra-
tives and pictures are vicarious, the ‘as-if’ on which they are premised
is specifically shaped by the form of the representation. Form emerges
as a key to how narratives and pictures constitute an important means
of engaging with experience. Combining theoretical reflections with
close readings, this book will appeal to Art Historians as well as to
textual scholars.
jonas grethlein holds the Chair in Greek Literature in the
Department of Classics at the Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg.
His authored publications include The Greeks and their Past: Poetry,
Oratory and History in the Fifth-Century BCE (2010) and Experience
and Teleology in Ancient Historiography: Futures Past from Herodotus
to Augustine (2013), Die Odyssee. Homer und die Kunst des Erzählens
(2017) and he is co-editor of Time and Narrative in Ancient Historiog-
raphy: The “Plupast” from Herodotus to Appian (2012).
Aesthetic Experiences
and Classical Antiquity
The Significance of Form
in Narratives and Pictures
Jonas Grethlein
Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Germany
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www.cambridge.org
Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9781107192652
DOI: 10.1017/9781108131582
© Jonas Grethlein 2017
This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant
collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written
permission of Cambridge University Press.
First published 2017
Printed in the United Kingdom by TJ International Ltd. Padstow Cornwall
A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Grethlein, Jonas, 1978- author.
Title: Aesthetic experiences and classical antiquity : the significance of form in narratives and
pictures / Jonas Grethlein, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Germany.
Description: New York : Cambridge University Press, 2017. | Includes bibliographical references
and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017024643 | ISBN 9781107192652 (hardback)
Subjects: LCSH: Aesthetics, Ancient. | Arts, Classical—Philosophy. | Classical antiquities
in art. | Classical literature—History and criticism. | Classical antiquities in literature. |
BISAC: HISTORY / Ancient / General.
Classification: LCC BH108 .G74 2017 | DDC 111/.85093—dc23 LC record available at
https://lccn.loc.gov/2017024643
ISBN 978-1-107-19265-2 Hardback
Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for
external or third-party internet websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee
that any content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.
Every effort has been made to trace the current owners of all copyright subsisting
in materials included within this book. The publishers would be grateful if any
copyright owners not contacted so far could identify themselves to the publishers
as soon as possible to correct any omissions.
Contents
List of Figures [page vii]
Acknowledgements [xiii]
Prologue: The Sirens’ Song [1]
1 Introduction: The ‘As-If’ of Aesthetic Experience [18]
I Narratives [39]
2 Narratives: Experiencing Time [41]
3 The Reconfiguration of Time in Heliodorus’ Ethiopica [74]
4 Beyond Heliodorus: François Ozon, Dans la Maison [131]
II Pictures [147]
5 Pictures: The Detached Gaze [149]
6 Seeing (in) Ancient Vases [191]
7 Beyond Ancient Vase-Painting: Rabih Mroué,
The Fall of a Hair [249]
Epilogue: The Sirens in Los Angeles [263]
References [271]
General Index [293]
Index Locorum [299]
v
Figures
P.1 Odysseus and the Sirens, Attic red-figured stamnos by Siren
Painter, British Museum, 480–470 BCE. © The Trustees of the
British Museum. All rights reserved [page 8]
P.2 Odysseus and the Sirens, Pompeian wall painting, British
Museum, 50–75 CE. © The Trustees of the British Museum.
All rights reserved [9]
P.3 Odysseus and the Sirens, Attic black-figured lekythos by
Edinburgh Painter, Athens, National Museum, 525–475 BCE.
© Haspels, DAI Athen, D-DAI-ATH-1969/1077 [10]
P.4 Odysseus and the Sirens, Roman Cameo, Antikensammlung
Berlin, first century BCE. © bpk/Antikensammlung, SMB/Ingrid
Geske-Heiden [11]
P.5 Odysseus and the Sirens, Attic black-figured oenochoe,
Antikensammlung Berlin, 550–500 BCE. © bpk/
Antikensammlung, SMB/Johannes Laurentius [12]
P.6 Odysseus and the Sirens, Tunis, Musée du Bardo
2884, third century CE. © Koppermann, DAI Rom,
D-DAI-ROM-61.544 [13]
5.1 Duck rabbit. © anonymous illustration in “Fliegende Blätter”,
issue 23 October 1892 [159]
5.2 William Hogarth, Marriage à la mode. 5. The Bagnio, London,
National Gallery, 1743–5. © The National Gallery, London [171]
5.3 Benozzo Gozzoli, The Dance of Salome, Washington D.C.,
National Gallery of Art, 1462. © Courtesy National Gallery of
Art, Washington [172]
5.4 Nicolas Poussin, Gathering of Manna, Louvre, 1637. © bpk/
RMN–Grand Palais/Martine Beck-Coppola [173]
5.5 Thomas Demand, Büro, Frankfurt, Städel Museum, 1995. ©
Städel Museum – ARTOTHEK/© VG Bild Kunst Bonn [174]
5.6 Jean Jacques Le Veau, Le juge ou la cruche cassée,
Kupferstichkabinett, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, c 1800. © bpk/
Kupferstichkabinett–SMB/Jörg P. Anders [176]
vii
viii Figures
5.7 Drawing of Clay Linear B tablet from Pylos, Athens, National
Archaeological Museum, 1250–1200 BCE. © Hellenic Ministry of
Culture and Sports/Archaeological Receipts Fund [181]
5.8 Lavatory sign © Froschkönig, Metal Signs, Freiburg [182]
5.9 Kazimir Malevich, Suprematist Painting (with Black Trapezium
and Red Square), Amsterdam, Stedelijk Museum, 1915.
© Collection Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam [185]
5.10 Barnett Newman, Vir Heroicus Sublimis. New York, Museum of
Modern Art (MoMA), 1950–1. Oil on canvas, 7’ 11 3/8’ × 17’9
1/4’ (242.2 × 541.7 cm). Gift of Mr and Mrs Ben Heller. Acc.n.:
240.1969. © 2016. Digital image, The Museum of Modern Art,
New York/Scala, Florence/© Barnett Newman Foundation/VG
Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2016 [186]
5.11 Ad Reinhardt, Abstract Painting. New York, Museum of
Modern Art (MoMA), 1963. Oil on canvas, 60 × 60 in (152.4 ×
152.4 cm). Gift of Mrs Morton J. Hornick. Acc. n.: 143.1977.
© 2016. Digital image, The Museum of Modern Art, New York/
Scala, Florence/© VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2016 [187]
5.12 Lucio Fontana, Concetto Spaziale, Attese, Berlin, Neue
Nationalgalerie, 1959. © bpk/Nationalgalerie, SMB/Andres
Kilger/© Lucio Fontana by SIAE/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn
2016 [188]
5.13 Jasper Johns, Flag. New York, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA),
1954 (dated on the reverse). Encaustic, oil and collage on fabric
mounted on plywood, 42 1/4 × 60 5/8 in (107.3 × 153.8 cm). Gift
of Philip Johnson in honor of Alfred H. Barr, Jr 106.1973. © 2016.
Digital image, The Museum of Modern Art, New York/Scala,
Florence/© VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2016 [189]
6.1 Sisyphus rolling up rock, Attic black-figured amphora by
Acheloos Painter, Munich, Staatliche Antikensammlungen,
510–500 BCE. © Staatliche Antikensammlung und Glyptothek
München; Foto: Renate Kühling [197]
6.2 Herakles wrestling with Triton, hydria, Painter of the Vatican G
43, Toledo, Museum of Art, c. 540–530 BCE, wheel-thrown, slip
decorated earthenware with incised details, H (to lip):
17 7/32 in. (43.7 cm); Diam (mouth): 9 7/16 in. (24 cm). © Toledo
Museum of Art, Purchased with funds from the Florence Scott
Libbey Bequest in Memory of her Father, Maurice A. Scott,
1956.69 [199]
