In the poem, Polyphemus is not a cave dwelling, monstrous brute, as in the Odyssey, but instead he is rather like Odysseus himself in his vision of the world: He has weaknesses, he is adept at literary criticism, and he understands people.

The Augustan period of art and architecture revered the Ancient Greeks and the Egyptians. The latter room holds the Polyphemus and Galatea fresco on the west wall and the companion fresco, Perseus and Andromeda, which was on the east wall (Alexander). Within the stories, the use of light provides the key some of the important emotional elements such as the rage of Polyphemus suggested The swirling of the dark sea of water and the waves crashing upon the rocks with their white foam caps suggest a feeling of churning emotions and mirrors the wildness of Polyphemus’ rage.

It was a signature color of the Augustan period. The darker palette of this work reflects the evil side of Polyphemus. Registered office: Venture House, Cross Street, Arnold, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG5 7PJ. The paint was also applied thickly to “adhere well and produce a luster” (Knauer, Roman). These were all values embraced by the ancient Greeks and admired by Imperial Rome and it’s leader Augustus who was a great artistic benefactor.. With their seascapes and landscapes, this fresco is rich with green and blue hues, which were produced by grinding minerals.

(Knauer, Roman Wall Paintings).

The fresco and its companion pieces were placed in one of the many rooms at the Villa de Boscotrecase which was owned by Agrippa, son-in-law of Augustus, and his wife Julia. From simple essay plans, through to full dissertations, you can guarantee we have a service perfectly matched to your needs.To export a reference to this article please select a referencing stye below: Although, it may be a secondary theme in the Polyphemus and Galatea wall painting, the homage paid to Greek art, architecture and the adulation of civilization–democracy, science, rationality and reasoning– is in keeping with the ideals of Augustan society. The Mythological Room consisted of three wall paintings: Polyphemus and Galatea on the west wall, Perseus and Andromeda on the east wall, and a third complementary wall painting on the north wall. Even the narrative on the lower left of the painting where Polyphemus is gazing upon his love, Galatea, evokes the feeling of discomfort and foreboding. The Polyphemus and Galatea fresco is a work which dates from after 11 BC or sometime during the last decade of the first century BC (von Blanckenhagen, The Augustan Villa). Imperial art often referred back to the Classical art of the past and those themes can be seen in the Polyphemus and Galatea fresco.

According to Ovid in Metamorphoses, Polyphemus loved Galatea, a Sicilian Nereid, and killed her lover Acis. Polyphemus, in Greek mythology, the most famous of the Cyclopes (one-eyed giants), son of Poseidon, god of the sea, and the nymph Thoösa. The Polyphemus and Galatea fresco is a work which dates from after 11 BC or sometime during the last decade of the first century BC (von Blanckenhagen, The Augustan Villa). Plate depicting the triumph of Galatea, tin-glazed earthenware from Urbino, Italy,

The work was first discovered during an excavation of the Villa de Boscotrecase from 1903 to 1906 and included three bedrooms–the Red Room, the Black Room, and the Mythological Room. The Polyphemus and Galatea fresco is one of the purest reflections of this phenomenon. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of UKEssays.com. If you need assistance with writing your essay, our professional essay writing service is here to help!We're here to answer any questions you have about our servicesOur academic experts are ready and waiting to assist with any writing project you may have. The Mythological Room is one of these rooms on the south side of the courtyard. The narrative in the upper right corner of the painting and moving to the center is the story of Polyphemus and Odysseus from Homer’s, The frescoes of mythological themes are particularly interesting as “They provide clues to the education and knowledge of the Roman citizen that are not found in public art.” These provide a “rare glimpse into the lives and interest of wealthy Roman villa owners” (academia.edu).

The Polyphemus and Galatea fresco was discovered in a subsequent excavation at the beginning of the twentieth century. The poem was written to be performed as a dithyramb, of which only fragments have survived, and was perhaps the first to provide a female love interest for the Cyclops. Galatea does not gaze back at Polyphemus rather she looks away as if repelled by him. Peter von Blanckenhagen notes that the paintings appear to have several perspectives or viewpoints, with the surrounding background as the element that unites them. VAT Registration No: 842417633. When Polyphemus discovered Acis and Galatea together, he crushed Acis to death with a boulder. Registered Data Controller No: Z1821391. Of the four bedrooms, three, including the Mythological Room with the Polyphemus and Galatea wall painting, were acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.