In the story of Cupid and Psyche are a couple references to the Hours, and I was curious who they were. So, I wikied them, and they're pretty much what they sound like, tutelary goddesses of the time of day. They are
Auge - first light
Anatole - sunrise
Mousika - the morning hour of music an study
Gymnastika - the morning hour of gymnastics/exercise
Nymphe - the morning hour of ablutions or bathing
Mesembria - noon
Sponde - libations poured after lunch
Elete - prayer, the first of the afternoon work hours
Akte - eating and pleasure, the second of the afternoon work hours
Hesperis - evening (is this where we get vespers maybe?)
Dysis - sunset
Arktos - last light
At the end of Cupid and Psyche, they decorate "the palace with red roses and other bridal flowers" (142). I'm not sure that there's a connection between decorating and being goddesses of certain times of day, but apparently they're helpers.
There were other "generations" of Horae, the first of which were goddesses of the seasons and the second of social stability. So, there you have it, in case you were wondering who the Hours were, too.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Cupid and Psyche
I found a site with a bunch of images of Cupid and Psyche, and there were a lot of good ones. (http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/~mjoseph/CP/ICP.html#post1800) This painting is entitled "The Wedding of Psyche" by Sir Edward Burne-Jones which was done in 1895. Instead of a wedding procession, it looks more like a somber funeral procession, which all weddings are. It is 
a death on numerous levels: of our "single inviolability" (D.H. Lawrence), of childhood or a chapter of our lives - a definite break from our families to start our own.
This is of "The Labours of Psyche" by John Roddamn Spencer Stanhope and was painted in 1873. Of course, Psyche didn't actually have to perform any of these labors herself. She was helped by the ants, the reed, the eagle, and the tower.
I really like this picture of Psyche in the underworld. It was done by Paul Alfred de Curzon sometime between 1840 and 1859. That is of course Cerberus in the background, but I think that it's a beautiful depiction of Psyche.
This painting of Cupid and Psyche is by Adolph William Bourgereau, and it was done in 1889. It looks like this is after Cupid rescues Psyche when she opens the box from Proserpine and is overcome by the Stygian sleep.
And I really love this sculpture by Denys Pierre Puech called Amor and Psyche (1880-1895). The artwork of Cupid and Psyche that was done in the 19th Century is some of the best, I think (or apparently that's what I'm drawn to). It really is a great story. In one version I've read, Cupid says to Psyche after she spills the hot oil on him, "Love cannot live where there is no trust," then he flies away. I completely agree - a lot can be learned from poor Psyche.
a death on numerous levels: of our "single inviolability" (D.H. Lawrence), of childhood or a chapter of our lives - a definite break from our families to start our own.
This is of "The Labours of Psyche" by John Roddamn Spencer Stanhope and was painted in 1873. Of course, Psyche didn't actually have to perform any of these labors herself. She was helped by the ants, the reed, the eagle, and the tower.
I really like this picture of Psyche in the underworld. It was done by Paul Alfred de Curzon sometime between 1840 and 1859. That is of course Cerberus in the background, but I think that it's a beautiful depiction of Psyche.
This painting of Cupid and Psyche is by Adolph William Bourgereau, and it was done in 1889. It looks like this is after Cupid rescues Psyche when she opens the box from Proserpine and is overcome by the Stygian sleep.
And I really love this sculpture by Denys Pierre Puech called Amor and Psyche (1880-1895). The artwork of Cupid and Psyche that was done in the 19th Century is some of the best, I think (or apparently that's what I'm drawn to). It really is a great story. In one version I've read, Cupid says to Psyche after she spills the hot oil on him, "Love cannot live where there is no trust," then he flies away. I completely agree - a lot can be learned from poor Psyche.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
"Beauty is truth, truth beauty"
I was thinking about the discussion in class about art and the connection between mythology and John Keat's "Ode on a Grecian Urn, specifically the lines "Beauty is truth, truth beauty," and I was reminded of a quote by W.D. Howells in Novel-Writing and Novel-Reading:
Howells is actually talking about modern fiction and realism, but the idea of truth and beauty is not a new one and obviously quite important. (Remember, "all that is past possesses our present.") Keat's appreciated the relationship between truth and beauty in his reflections on the urn, and recognized that that which is true and closest to representing life as it is, is the best.
The story that comes to mind from Ovid's Metamorphoses is Arachne's. The tapestry that she weaves in the competition with Minerva is far more beautiful than the goddess', which of course makes her really mad. But, the point of this story is that art depicting truth, like Arachne's portrayal of the gods as they honestly behave, is superior to anything that is false (Minerva's). Nevertheless, things still end up badly for Arachne. Minerva turns her into a spider, but such is life, right? It makes for great art, whether in the form of a story or a painting or song or dance or even an urn.
The last part of Howells' quote reminds me of the Oscar Wilde quote that was brought up in class, as well. "There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written or badly written." Basically, there is good art and bad art; it does not matter how disgusting or disturbing it may be, as long as it is done well. (Who decides this? Why, Dr. Sexson of course!) And, Ovid was definitely not worried about being moral. He just told the myths like they were, beautiful, indecent at times, and for this reason they influence and enrich our lives.
"By beauty of course I mean truth, for the one involves the other; it
is only the false in art which is ugly, and it is only the false which is
immoral. The truth may be indecent, but it cannot be vicious, it can
never corrupt or deprave..."
Howells is actually talking about modern fiction and realism, but the idea of truth and beauty is not a new one and obviously quite important. (Remember, "all that is past possesses our present.") Keat's appreciated the relationship between truth and beauty in his reflections on the urn, and recognized that that which is true and closest to representing life as it is, is the best.
The story that comes to mind from Ovid's Metamorphoses is Arachne's. The tapestry that she weaves in the competition with Minerva is far more beautiful than the goddess', which of course makes her really mad. But, the point of this story is that art depicting truth, like Arachne's portrayal of the gods as they honestly behave, is superior to anything that is false (Minerva's). Nevertheless, things still end up badly for Arachne. Minerva turns her into a spider, but such is life, right? It makes for great art, whether in the form of a story or a painting or song or dance or even an urn.
The last part of Howells' quote reminds me of the Oscar Wilde quote that was brought up in class, as well. "There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written or badly written." Basically, there is good art and bad art; it does not matter how disgusting or disturbing it may be, as long as it is done well. (Who decides this? Why, Dr. Sexson of course!) And, Ovid was definitely not worried about being moral. He just told the myths like they were, beautiful, indecent at times, and for this reason they influence and enrich our lives.
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