Devouring aesthetics

Somewhere in (21st c.) Athens.

[photograph taken by Elias, reproduced here courtesy of the photographer, VIA]

Pirelli 2011

The new 2011 Pirelli calendar was shot by Karl Lagerfeld.
The theme was "Greek and Roman Mythology" and gods were impersonated by numerous famous models and actress Julian Moore on the role of Hera.

From his Paris studio, Lagerfeld created "Mythology", a calendar that reflects
one of his deepest passions, that of Greek and Roman mythology, tales of the
origins of humanity told through the adventures of gods and goddesses, heroes
and heroines. On a voyage back through time transported by the universal
language of photography, "Mythology" takes us to the roots of classical
civilisation and takes the Pirelli Calendar back to the Old World, where nearly
140 years ago a company was born that was to become a multinational organisation
with operations in over 160 nations around the world.

The 36 photos that make up the 2011 Calendar show 24 different subjects, including gods, heroes and myths. With his keen eye, Lagerfeld has 'sculpted' these photos both in terms of their aesthetic rigour and for the recurring references to the art of sculpture and its classical tenets. All of the photos are in black and white, which lends
character to the images, exalts the beauty of the figures represented in sharp
chromatic contrast, and gives them a certain three-dimensionality through the
careful use of light.

"Actresses and models bring these new heroes to life and depict a new concept of the beautiful," said Karl Lagerfeld, who, within the 2011 Pirelli Calendar, has offered up an idyllic, immortal representation of beauty. Beauty, youth, the veneration of form, and desire depict this new concept of beauty and embody the modernity in mythology.

(quote for the press release)


You may learn all about the concept and a very analytical presentation of the gods and semigods portrayed in the project reading the long (but very informative) press release. Visit this page HERE and press "Show Press Release"

You may see more photographs HERE.

In memoriam

Nelly's collage for the poster of the International Tourism Exhibition, New York 1939


Yannis Sakellarakis (1936-2010)
In memoriam


Είγε ετελεύτα

«Πού απεσύρθηκε, πού εχάθηκε ο Σοφός;
Έπειτ’ από τα θαύματά του τα πολλά,
την φήμη της διδασκαλίας του
που διεδόθηκεν εις τόσα έθνη
εκρύφθηκ' αίφνης και δεν έμαθε κανείς
με θετικότητα τι έγινε
(ουδέ κανείς ποτέ είδε τάφον του).
Έβγαλαν μερικοί πως πέθανε στην  Έφεσο.
Δεν τόγραψεν ο Δάμις όμως· τίποτε
για θάνατο του Aπολλωνίου δεν έγραψεν ο Δάμις.
Άλλοι είπανε πως έγινε άφαντος στην Λίνδο.
Ή μήπως είν’ εκείν’ η ιστορία
αληθινή, που ανελήφθηκε στην Κρήτη,
στο αρχαίο της Δικτύννης ιερόν.—
Aλλ’ όμως έχουμε την θαυμασία,
την υπερφυσικήν εμφάνισί του
εις έναν νέον σπουδαστή στα Τύανα.—
Ίσως δεν ήλθεν ο καιρός για να επιστρέψει,
για να φανερωθεί στον κόσμο πάλι·
ή μεταμορφωμένος, ίσως, μεταξύ μας
γυρίζει αγνώριστος.— Μα θα ξαναφανερωθεί
ως ήτανε, διδάσκοντας τα ορθά· και τότε βέβαια
θα επαναφέρει την λατρεία των θεών μας,
και τες καλαίσθητες ελληνικές μας τελετές.»


Έτσι ερέμβαζε στην πενιχρή του κατοικία—
μετά μια ανάγνωσι του Φιλοστράτου
«Τα ες τον Τυανέα Aπολλώνιον»—
ένας από τους λίγους εθνικούς,
τους πολύ λίγους που είχαν μείνει. Άλλωστε —ασήμαντος
άνθρωπος και δειλός— στο φανερόν
έκανε τον Χριστιανό κι αυτός κι εκκλησιάζονταν.
Ήταν η εποχή καθ’ ην βασίλευεν,
εν άκρα ευλαβεία, ο γέρων Ιουστίνος,
κ’ η Aλεξάνδρεια, πόλις θεοσεβής,
αθλίους ειδωλολάτρας αποστρέφονταν.

Κ.Π. Καβάφης

A Bacchus without grapes?

Aphrodite

Product Description
Almost everyone has heard of Aphrodite. But not everyone knows that she was the goddess of love, beauty and passion in ancient Greece. Pure as the driven snow, our Aphrodite's himation (toga) is sewn to the classic peplos (tunic) at one end – the other can be fastened with a hook and loop fastener. The elegant peplos has an elasticized waist and is closed at the back. Be as creative as the Greek Goddess of Innocence with how you wear the matching headband. Wait a minute: this sexy costume is the aphrodisiac in fabric form for any "toga" party.

Material:100 % polyester

******

Bacchus

• Costume, 3-piece
• With chiton tunic
• With himation cape
• With cord sash
• Without grapes, jewelry or shoes

Product Description

Bacchus is not only the god of wine, he is also in charge of fertility. That must be why no holds were barred at the Bacchanalia – the Roman festival held in honor of Bacchus. The wine poured like a waterfall and the rites they performed were more like orgies. These days, Bacchus has calmed down: after all, he's a few millennia older. Instead of impressing his followers with his ability to hold his alcohol, he relies on his classic outfit: a chiton with an elegantly casual himation. A truly heavenly look!

******

Greek scholar

With tunic
With headband
With cloak
Without scroll
Product Description: Whether proficient Pythagoras or adroit Archimedes, the classic Greek scholars are still known today for their rich spirit of invention, deep thirst for knowledge and modest attire. The chiton (tunic) and headband of this Greek Scholar are in pure white and his chlamys (cloak) is trimmed with the famous Greek key pattern. In this costume, you can explain your treatise for hours at a time or cloak your desire to meet people as wisdom.

******
[My personal favourite]

King Agamemnon

(note the pseudo-parchment resolving once and for all its use in Mycenaean times - unless he's reading an Egyptian letter or something)

Product Description: King Agamemnon was the leader of the Greek army during the ten-year siege of Troy. We aren't convinced that he dreamed up the idea of the Trojan horse himself. But it's true that the general led his army to victory thanks to the legendary horse trick. Of course his military uniform can't provide the high level of wearing comfort and elegant look of the dark blue and golden royal robe. Today's King Agamemnon enjoys the comfortable tunic with a sewn-on cloak. A large, blue rhinestone gleams on the belt. Peace can look just as interesting as war!

*******

Artemis

*******

Se also Female chiton, Male chiton, Greek tunic, Female slave, Goddess

Eloy's Ocean

In 1977 the German progressive rock band Eloy released their sixth album called Ocean.

The album included four tracks titled:

Poseidon's Creation
(listen to it HERE and HERE)

[...] Poseidon became lord of earthquake and seas / Master of oceans and all their wealth / God of an island, there lived a family / With a daughter of beauty and health

Atlantis was the island's name / Greatest treasury of all times / Human eyes didn't ever see the same / Silver and gold, fertile hills, woodlands and plains / It was situated in front of the strait / They call "The Columns of Herakles" [...]

Incarnation of the Logos
(listen to it HERE)


Decay of the Logos
(listen to it HERE)


Atlantis' Agony at June 5th 8498 13 p.m. Gregorian Earthtime
(listen to it HERE and HERE)

******

For more on the album, see the official website of the group HERE.

Sea gods partying

Photograph VIA

Not even Captain Comet

Even Captain Comet could not defy the power of the 12 Eternals!
(via)

The Greek Gods Greek Yogurt

The Greek Gods. Experience the myth.