Many ancient female royals are rarely talked about for a variety of reasons. Athenians of these periods did not think women should be seen – much less heard – in public. One female monarch that we do hear enough about is Gorgo of Sparta, daughter and only known child of Cleomenes I, King of Sparta. She was born in the early 500’s BC and was known to be a woman whose opinion leaders trusted. The first time she is recorded speaking her mind, allegedly at the age of eight or nine, she was already interfering in the affairs of state. Later as a Queen, one famous incident occurred, in which a blank wax tablet was sent to Sparta from the exiled king Demaratus. Gorgo was the only one who suggested in scraping the wax off, under which was written a hidden warning message regarding Xerxes plan to attack. They send word to Athens who was then able to prepare for battle. Perhaps the fact that Gorgo of Sparta was genuinely and exceptionally bright explains why as a child and wife, she was consulted and her opinions respected. ”
“GNOSTIKOS - 122 x 170 cm
Gnostikos (meaning “cognitive”) is a Classical Greek adjective, stemming from the feminine noun ‘Gnosis’ used throughout Greek philosophy as a technical term for ‘experience knowledge’ in contrast to ‘theoretical knowledge’. The term is also related to the study of knowledge retention or memory, in relation to ontic or ontological, which is how something actually is rather than how something is captured (abstraction) and stored (memory) in the mind. It is also often used for personal knowledge compared with intellectual knowledge (eídein), as with French ‘connaitre’ compared with ‘savoir’.”
“PLEROMA - 120 x 170 cm
Pleroma represents the idea of ‘a state of perfect fullness’, abundance, plenitude, the world of light. Generally referring to the totality of divine powers, this ancient greek word literally signifies “fullness”. It may emphasise totality in contrast to its constituent parts; or fullness in contrast to emptiness (kenoma); or completeness in contrast to incompleteness or deficiency (hysterema). A further ambiguity arises when it is joined with a genitive, which may be either subjective or objective, the fullness which one thing gives to another, or that which it receives from another. ”
“NYX - 122 x 150 cm
Nyx (Νύξ) is the Greek goddess or personification of the night. A shadowy figure, Nyx stood at or near the beginning of creation and mothered other deities such as Hypnos (Sleep) and Erebus (Darkness). Although her appearances are sparse in surviving mythology, she is revealed as a figure of such exceptional power that even Zeus himself feared her. Nyx also took on an important role in several fragmentary poems attributed to Orpheus. In them, rather than Chaos, Nyx is the one portrayed as being the first principle from which all creation emerges.”
“SOLON - Sarah Jane - 115 x 158 cm
Solon (Σόλων c. 630 – c. 560 BC) was an Athenian statesman, lawmaker and poet. He is remembered particularly for his efforts to legislate against political, economic and moral decline in archaic Athens. During Solon’s time, many Greek city-states had seen the emergence of tyrants, opportunistic noblemen who had taken power on behalf of sectional interests. Solon was described by Plutarch as having been temporarily awarded autocratic powers by Athenian citizens on the grounds that he had the “wisdom” to sort out their differences for them in a peaceful and equitable manner. Solon’s verses are mainly significant for historical rather than aesthetic reasons, as a personal record of his reforms and attitudes. According to Solon the poet, Solon the reformer was a voice for political moderation in Athens at a time when his fellow citizens were increasingly polarised by social and economic differences.”
“PERICLES - 135 x 150
Pericles (c. 495 – 429 BC) was a prominent and influential Greek statesman, orator and general of Athens during its golden age. He promoted the arts and literature and it is mainly through his efforts that Athens acquired the reputation of being the educational and cultural center of the ancient world. He promoted the ambitious project that generated most of the surviving structures on the Acropolis. This project beautified and protected the city, exhibited its glory, and gave work to the people. Pericles was strongely in favour of Athenian democracy, so much so that he was criticised by some and called a ‘populist’. Pericles is considered to have been the first politician to attribute importance to philosophy and he is known to have enjoyed the company of Philosophers such as Protagoras, Zeno of Elea and in particular Anaxagoras. Pericles’ legendary calmness and self-control are often regarded as products of Anaxagoras’ influence. Anaxagoras emphasised on emotional calmness in the face of trouble and was skeptical in regards to divine phenomena. This most likely had a lasting impact on Pericles and shaped his unique manner of thought and rhetorical charisma.”
“ARETE OF CYRENE - 160 X 220
Arete of Cyrene (4th century BCE) was the daughter of the hedonist philosopher Aristippus (c. 435-356 BCE) and grew up influenced by his teachings. Arete took over the school upon Aristippus’ death, and like her father, she is said to have held to the philosophy of “I possess, I am not possessed”, by which she meant that one could have as many worldly goods as one wished as long as one’s life was not controlled by those possessions. One should, therefore, pursue pleasure and enjoy the things of this world without allowing those things to control one’s life and freedom of movement. The School of Cyrene was one of the first to advance a systematic view on the role of pleasure and pain in human life. The Cyrenaics argued that discipline, knowledge, and virtuous actions are more likely to result in pleasure. Whereas negative emotions, such as anger and fear, multiplied pain. Arete of Cyrene is said to have written over 40 books, none of which survive in the present day. She also appears to have been a single mother who raised Aristippus-the-Younger in the hedonistic philosophy. She was so highly esteemed by her countrymen that they inscribed on her tomb an epitaph which declared that she was the splendour of Greece and possessed the beauty of Helen, the virtue of Thirma, the pen of Aristippus, the soul of Socrates and the tongue of Homer.”
“ARISTOI - 125 x 150 cm
The Aristoi was the label given to the noblemen in ancient Greek society, and in particular ancient Athens. The term literally means “best”, with the denotation of best in terms of birth, rank, and nobility, but usually possessing the connotation of also being the morally best. The term in fact derives similarly with ‘arete’: “The root of the word is the same as aristos, the word which shows superlative ability and superiority, and “aristos” was constantly used in the plural to denote the nobility.”
