Inspired by The Art of Assassin's Creed Odyssey, by Kate Lewis, with courtesy from Titan Books.
(Behind the scenes)
"What impressed me was the way historians and archaeologist found out about the color that the Greek artists would use on their creations. Before working on this project, I always thought that the artists of the Classical age would leave the marble uncolored. By using ultra-violet light, archaeologists were able to debunk what we thought to be true. The colors revealed by this process were dazzling and bright, exactly the opposite of what I would have expected them to be." – Vincent Pamerleau
Bust of Hippokrates, engraving by Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) / 1638
Hippokrates is the most famous physician of antiquity, and is often called the father of medicine. He was born in the island of Kos in 460 BCE, and was a member of the Asklepiads, an aristocratic family that passed their medical techniques from generation to generation. He had two sons named Thessalos and Drakon.
Hippokrates left Kos early in his career to become a traveling physician. According to his biographers, he once went to the city of Abdere to cure the philosopher Demokritos of madness. Another anecdote says he was asked by the Persian king Artaxerxes to cure a plague decimating his army. Unfortunately for the king, Hippokrates refused to help an enemy of Greece, no matter how much gold he was offered.
Hippokrates died in Thessaly at around the age of 85. He enjoyed a great reputation among his contemporaries, and Plato even credit him with inventing the scientific method.
Young man (Athlete?) pouring oil or perfume from an aryballos / 520-500 BCE (Archaic Greece)
The Greeks created a bodily hygiene and beauty culture in which the use of fragrances was very important.
Both men and women used perfumes in their bathing rituals, and good hosts always made sure they treated their guests to a bath and perfume session. Men also anointed their bodies after exercising, and it was unheard of for a man to go to the gymnasium without bringing his flasks of perfume.
The art of making perfume was part of the field of medicine in Antiquity. Certain resins and odorous substances were believed to have therapeutic effects, and the same ointments used in body care could also be used for healing purposes. In the 1st century CE, the famous pharmacologist Dioskourides even began his treatise De materia medica with a list of aromatic plants, perfumed oils, and unguents.
Gold ring with a woman before a thymiaterion (incense burner) / 350-300 BCE (Classical / Hellenistic Greece)
Perfume was often considered to be manifestations of the gods' divine presence, and using or offering incense and perfume was believed to be a way of communicating with the Gods.
The Athenian Assembly burned aromatics at the start of each session to invoke deities, in the hopes they would inspire citizens to speak. Perfumes was also burned on the altars that populated various sanctuaries, and statues of the Gods were anointed with perfumed oils.
But perfume wasn't the only scented substance with sacred uses. Gardens, as well as crowns of flowers and garlands, ensured that temples always smelled exceptional. Gods were also associated with specific flowers and plants. For example, Apollo was honored with olive branches, and Aphrodite was linked with Palm Tree of Eurymedon.
Lion's scalp, monetary type from a tetradrachm of Samos / 409-308 BCE (Classical Greece)
The lion was chosen for the banner of Samos, as it is a frequent image of ancient Greek iconography.
A lion scalp was the emblem of the coinage of Samos. This lion's head was specifically related to Herakles' task of killing the Nemean lion.
This legendary lion ravaged the plain of Argolis, and had skin so thick that Herakles couldn't kill it with his arrows. The hero chose instead to strangle it.
The battle against the Nemean lion symbolized combat against savagery and barbarism, and became the model of athletic fighting—a very popular event of the Olympics.
