Mythology in European Art from Udemy

To visualize the most unsuspected ideas of culture and society artists and commissioners found a perfect medium - the characters and stories of ancient Greek mythology, which are not only the root of European culture but also essential for understanding famous pieces of art history.

Dive into a journey through well - known artworks and artists guided by the following themes:

- Power & Politics: How did rulers employ the gods,goddesses and heroes for purposes of representation?

- Love & Lust: How did the male gaze manifest in the mythological artworks? Is there such thing as heavenly love?

- Bacchanal: What role does the tradition of wine-drinking play for Renaissance academics?

After the introduction of selected characters we will analyze particular artworks in detail.

We focus on the Early Modern Period, such as Renaissance, Baroque and Classicism.

*REVISED SUBTITLES*

What's inside

Learning objectives

Get introduced to the main characters of ancient greek mythology and how to identify them yourself
Get to know famous examples of european art

Learn about basic imagery concepts and ways to convey meaning
Find out how the ancient gods and goddesses are used to represent important ideas of cultural history

Get introduced to the main characters of ancient greek mythology and how to identify them yourself
Get to know famous examples of european art
Learn about basic imagery concepts and ways to convey meaning
Find out how the ancient gods and goddesses are used to represent important ideas of cultural history

Syllabus

Welcome To This Course

About This Course

About Me

History of mythological characters in European culture and how to identify them in artworks

Introducing Ancient Greek Mythology

Iconography: Identifying the Characters of Ancient Greek Mythology

How are characters of ancient mythology being used to convey meanings of power and politics?

Apollo

Hercules

Minerva

Conclusion

How are characters of ancient mythology being used to convey meanings of love and lust?

The Loves of Jupiter

Venus

Amor

What a role did wine drinking play in artworks?

Bacchanal

What conclusions can be drawn from looking at the mentioned artworks?

Outro

Sources and Literature

Sources

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores the use of mythological figures in art, which provides a deeper understanding of historical and cultural contexts

Focuses on the Early Modern Period, including the Renaissance, Baroque, and Classicism, which are key periods in art history curricula

Introduces basic imagery concepts and ways to convey meaning, which builds a strong foundation for understanding visual communication

Examines how rulers employed gods, goddesses, and heroes for purposes of representation, which sheds light on the intersection of art and power

Analyzes how the male gaze manifests in mythological artworks, which offers a critical perspective on representation and cultural norms

Requires familiarity with ancient Greek mythology, which may necessitate additional reading for those unfamiliar with the source material

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Mythology in European Art with these activities:

Review Greek Mythology Basics

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Reinforce your understanding of the key figures and stories from Greek mythology before diving into their artistic representations.

Browse courses on Greek Mythology

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Read summaries of major Greek myths.
Create flashcards for key gods and heroes.
Take a practice quiz on Greek mythology.

Read 'Mythology' by Edith Hamilton

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Gain a deeper understanding of the myths that inspire European art by reading a classic text on mythology.

View Mythology (75th Anniversary Illustrated... on Amazon

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Read assigned chapters before each relevant module.
Take notes on key characters and plot points.
Relate the myths to the artworks discussed in the course.

Research a Specific Artwork

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Enhance your understanding of a particular artwork by conducting in-depth research on its mythological context and artistic significance.

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Choose an artwork featured in the course.
Research the mythological story depicted.
Analyze the artist's choices and their impact.
Present your findings in a short paper or presentation.

Three other activities

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Create a Character Guide

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Solidify your knowledge of mythological figures by creating a visual guide to help others identify them in artworks.

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Choose five mythological characters from the course.
Research their attributes and symbols.
Find examples of artworks depicting each character.
Create a guide with images and descriptions.

Review 'The Power of Images' by David Freedberg

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Deepen your understanding of how images convey meaning and power by exploring the theoretical framework presented in this book.

View The Power of Images: Studies in the History and... on Amazon

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Read selected chapters focusing on image theory.
Consider how these theories apply to mythological art.
Write a short reflection on the book's key ideas.

Create a Comparative Analysis Presentation

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Compare and contrast different artistic interpretations of the same mythological story to deepen your analytical skills.

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Select a mythological story with multiple artistic depictions.
Gather images and information about each artwork.
Analyze the similarities and differences in their interpretations.
Create a presentation to share your analysis.

Career center

Learners who complete Mythology in European Art will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Art historian

An art historian studies the history of art, examining artworks and their cultural contexts, connecting them to the time periods in which they were created. This course, with its introduction to the characters of ancient Greek mythology and the analysis of specific artworks, helps build a foundation for a career as an art historian. The course's focus on the Early Modern Period, including the Renaissance, Baroque, and Classicism may be particularly relevant to those wishing to specialize in this area. The detailed examination of how gods, goddesses, and heroes are used to represent ideas of power, politics, love, and lust, allows an aspiring art historian to understand how meaning is conveyed in art, particularly within a European context.

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Museum curator

A museum curator manages a museum's collection, including acquiring, researching, and displaying artifacts. This course, with its focus on identifying characters of ancient Greek mythology and understanding their use in European art, may be quite helpful for a career as a museum curator, particularly in the context of European art. This course's study of the iconography of ancient Greek mythology and methods of conveying meaning will allow you to better understand and interpret the stories behind artworks within your charge. Moreover, the course's focus on the use of mythological characters to represent important ideas may be particularly useful in the field of exhibition design. This course provides a strong grounding in the iconography of the Early Modern Period, which includes Renaissance, Baroque, and Classicism.

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Art Critic

An art critic analyzes and evaluates art, often writing reviews for publications or academic journals. This course, with its exploration of how ancient Greek mythological figures are used to convey meaning in European art, will help one develop the skills needed for a career as an art critic. The course focuses on the Early Modern Period, which includes Renaissance, Baroque, and Classicism. Understanding the background of an artwork, including its iconography and symbolism, is critical for any art critic; this course will help you develop this understanding, by introducing you to the main characters of ancient Greek mythology and how they recur in art. The course's analysis of how gods and goddesses are used to represent power, love, and lust is also applicable to broader art criticism.

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Lecturer

A lecturer teaches at a college or university, often specializing in a particular academic area. This course, with its introduction to the main characters of ancient Greek mythology and its analysis of European art, will help one build a foundation for a career as a lecturer. The course emphasizes the use of mythology to convey messages of power, politics, love, and lust, and it also focuses on the Early Modern Period. The course's deep dive into the use of ancient gods and goddesses to represent important ideas of cultural history are especially useful for the prospective lecturer. A lecturer would be able to use the knowledge gained from this course to teach their own students.

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Archivist

An archivist appraises, organizes, and preserves historical records and documents. This course, with its focus on the history of mythological characters in European culture, may be a good fit for those wishing to work as an archivist, particularly in a setting with art or historical artifacts. The course provides specific knowledge about iconography and how to identify characters from classic Greek mythology, which may be helpful when dealing with artworks or related documents, particularly those from the Early Modern Period. Understanding the use of mythological characters to convey various meanings may also be helpful should you come across such symbolic language in archival materials.

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Content Writer

A content writer creates written material for websites, publications, or other media. If you pursue a career as a content writer, focusing on art or cultural topics, this course may prove to be very useful. In particular, the course's examination of the use of ancient Greek mythology in European art, and the analysis of specific artworks, may equip you with unique insight into the cultural context of such art. This course's focus on power, love, and lust as expressed through mythological characters, may provide material for a content writer who wishes to create engaging content.

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Arts Administrator

An arts administrator manages the business and administrative aspects of an arts organization. This course, while not directly focused on the administrative aspects of art, could be helpful for an arts administrator by providing a deeper understanding of the artistic content being managed, specifically related to European art and Greek mythology. Understanding the cultural and historical context of artworks, as taught in this course, can be useful for marketing, fundraising, and grant writing, among other administrative tasks. The course's focus on the Early Modern Period could be helpful for an arts administrator working with museums that showcase artwork from this time period.

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Art Consultant

An art consultant advises clients on art acquisitions and sales. This course, with its focus on identifying characters of ancient Greek mythology and understanding their use in European art, may be a good fit for those wishing to work as an art consultant. The course provides specific knowledge about iconography, which may be helpful when evaluating artworks, particularly those from the Early Modern Period. An art consultant would use the knowledge gained from this course to help clients better understand the pieces they are assessing.

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Exhibition Designer

An exhibition designer plans and creates physical and digital displays of art, artifacts, or other materials. This course, while not directly focused on exhibition design itself, can be useful for an exhibition designer, particularly in museums or galleries that showcase European art. This course, with its focus on the use of ancient Greek mythology in art, will provide essential knowledge for interpreting and displaying such pieces. Understanding the symbolic meanings and imagery of mythological figures, as taught by this course, may help you to design more engaging and informative displays.

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Tour Guide

A tour guide leads groups of people on tours of places of interest such as museums or historical sites. This course, with its focus on identifying characters of ancient Greek mythology and their presence in famous European artworks, may be a good fit for a tour guide who works in a museum setting. The course's exploration of the use of gods, goddesses, and heroes in conveying messages of power, love, and lust may provide engaging talking points for a tour. The course's focus on the Early Modern Period may be particularly useful in the appropriate context.

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Teacher

A teacher educates students in a variety of academic subjects. This course, while not directly focused on teaching methods, may be helpful for a teacher by providing a deeper understanding of art history, especially in the context of European art and Greek mythology. This course's exploration of how ancient Greek mythology is used to represent ideas may help teachers develop engaging lessons. A teacher would be able to use the knowledge gained from this course to teach their own students.

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Illustrator

An illustrator creates visual representations for books, magazines, or other media. This course provides context for an illustrator, particularly if working on projects that involve mythology, or that seek to evoke a classic feel. This course teaches how to identify characters from ancient Greek myth, and it also demonstrates how these characters are depicted in European art, which is helpful if you are seeking a historical grounding for your work. The course's deep dive into iconography and the use of symbols to convey power, love, and lust, as well as its focus on the Early Modern Period, may help you find inspiration.

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Writer

A writer creates written content for books, articles, or other publications. This course, with its exploration of ancient Greek mythology and its expression through the medium of European art, may be helpful for a writer, particularly if they deal with historical pieces. This course will provide a detailed understanding of characters and stories from Greek myth, and those who take this course will be able to incorporate them into their writing. This course examines the use of mythological figures to express power, love, and lust, and may inspire you in your craft.

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Fashion Designer

A fashion designer creates clothing and accessories. While not directly related to fashion design, this course provides a basis in European art history and iconography that may be inspirational to a fashion designer. The course's exploration of mythological characters and how they are depicted in the Early Modern Period may help you understand historical trends, which may even be translated to fashion design, should the designer wish it. The course's focus on symbolism and how it can be used to convey messages of power, love, and lust may help inform your work.

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Librarian

A librarian manages a library's collection and assists patrons with finding resources. This course, with its focus on the use of mythology within European art, may be useful for a librarian who works at an institution with a focus on art history. The course's focus on the iconography of Greek myth will help you better understand and classify resources, especially relating to the Early Modern Period. The detailed discussion of mythological characters and their use to convey meaning may be of use when assisting patrons with research.

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Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Mythology in European Art.

Mythology (75th Anniversary Illustrated Edition)

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Edith Hamilton's 'Mythology' comprehensive and accessible introduction to Greek, Roman, and Norse myths. It provides detailed accounts of the gods, heroes, and stories that are frequently depicted in European art. is highly recommended as a reference text for understanding the mythological context of the artworks discussed in the course. It is commonly used as a textbook in mythology courses.

Mythology (75th Anniversary Illustrated Edition):...

Hardcover

Mythology (75th Anniversary Illustrated Edition):...

Kindle Edition

The Power of Images

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David Freedberg's 'The Power of Images' explores the complex relationship between images and viewers throughout history. While not specifically focused on mythology, it provides valuable insights into how images convey meaning and evoke emotional responses. is more valuable as additional reading, offering a theoretical framework for analyzing the impact of mythological art on its audience. It adds depth to the course by examining the broader cultural context of image-making.

The Power of Images: Studies in the History and...

Kindle Edition

Mythology in European Art

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Good to know

Save this course

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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