Panel from the Pergamon Altar's North Frieze (Nyx)
Panel from the Pergamon Altar's North Frieze (Nyx)
3D
Published 2023-08-25T09:29:53+00:00
The Pergamon Altar (Ancient Greek: Βωμός τῆς Περγάμου) is a monumental construction built during the reign of king Eumenes II in the first half of the 2nd century BC on one of the terraces of the acropolis of the ancient Greek city of Pergamon in Asia Minor.
This panel from the altar's North frieze probably depicts the goddess Nyx, though she is also considered to be one of the Erinyes, goddesses of revenge. She is holding a vessel wrapped in snakes, ready to throw it.
The altar was bult in memory of King Eumene's victory over the Gauls and other surrounding tribes. On the sides of the altar is depicted a ruthless battle between Gods and Giants (known as the Gigantomachy). On the other panel, we see Athena holding the giant Alcyoneus by the hair as she sends a snake to bite the terrified giant in the throat. The giant's mother Gaia (visible in this panel), Mother Earth herself, looks helpless on the other side of Athena, where above her the victory Goddess Nike is already on her way to pay tribute to the winner.
German archaeologists excavated the altar from 1878 and took everything they found to Germany, where the altar is today, in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin. Its characters might have been created in the same Pergamene workshop as the Laocoon Group. The altar is is referred to in the Bible as the 'Throne of Satan' (John Revelations chapter 2, v.13). Without knowing the original meaning and purpose of the altar Adolf Hitler's architect, Albert Speer, took direct inspiration from the Pergamon and adapted it to build Hitler's podium, the Zeppelintribüne, in the grounds of Nuremberg.
Scanned with the Artec Eva in sections.
| Date published | 25/08/2023 |
| Title | Panel from the Pergamon Altar's North Frieze (Nyx) |
| Accession | KAS19 / 9 |
| Period | Hellenistic |
| Medium | Plaster |
| Credit | Original: Pergamon museum (ORIG207) |
| Record | https://open.smk.dk/en/artwork/image/KAS19/9?q=erinye&page=0 |
| Artist | Unknown artist |
| Place | SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst |
