Browsing by Author "Du Preez, Janke"
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- ItemFrom sacrilege to violence : the rape of Cassandra on Attic vases c. 575-400 BCE(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-03) Du Preez, Janke; Masters, Samantha; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Ancient Studies.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Sack of Troy or Ilioupersis, is a lost epic of ancient Greek literature which tells of the violent and ruthless Greeks that pillaged the city of Troy. It was a prevalent theme in ancient Attic art, and in the fifth century BCE evolved onto the platform of Athenian drama. The Rape of Cassandra episode is one of the most recurring scenes in Attic vase-painting. The iconography, however, dramatically changes between 575-400 BCE. Both Archaic black-figure and Classical red-figure examples show Cassandra, in a vulnerable position, being attacked by Ajax. However, there are significant differences between the iconography of scenes from these two periods. In Archaic black-figure vase-painting the figure of Cassandra appears small, insignificant and in some instances completely hidden from view as she is obscured by the huge shield of Athena. In contrast, in Classical red-figure scenes the figure of Cassandra becomes more conspicuous and commands more attention from the viewer. In red-figure versions the figure of Cassandra also appears far more sensual in comparison to the black-figure examples, as her undressed, or even naked body is explicitly exposed, suggesting not only an attack, but, more specifically, a rape. Athena, on the other hand, is now portrayed smaller in relation to her black-figure counterpart, and in the form of a cult statue, rather than the goddess herself. These differing portrayals of Cassandra and the goddess in Attic black-figure and red-figure vase-painting suggest a change in emphasis in the subtext of this scene-type. While the narrative details that emerge are similar, the iconographic details – including gesture, clothing (or the lack thereof), weaponry, relative positions and sizes of the figures – suggest the change in emphasis from the attack as sacrilege to one that includes sacrilege but foregrounds rape and violence. Therefore, in this regard, although violence and sacrilege are two fundamental themes in both periods, the changing iconography suggests a noticeable shift in focus. Using the iconographic approach, 46 black-figured vases and 26 red-figured vases representing the Rape of Cassandra scenes from the Beazley Archive and LIMC encyclopedic collection are catalogued, studied and contextualized during the course of this thesis. Studying the iconography of these vase images in their appropriate contexts illustrates the changing perceptions of the suffering and violated woman in a violent and patriarchal society.