The master’s thesis examines the myth of Actaeon as depicted in archaic and classical Greek visual art and literature, with a particular focus on its diverse literary representations. The first part offers a chronological survey and analysis of all extant literary sources that preserve the myth. Prior to Callimachus’ Hellenistic reinterpretation, which introduces the well-known motif of Artemis’ (Diana’s) bath, a detail that dominates most subsequent versions—earlier sources present a broader range of narrative variations. These accounts differ notably in the reasons given for Actaeon’s punishment. However, a comparative analysis of these early traditions is complicated by the fragmentary nature of the surviving texts, which are both limited in number and often incomplete. The final part of the literary section also explores the later development of the myth, with particular attention to the influential treatments by Callimachus and Ovid.
The second part of the thesis is dedicated to the depictions of the myth in visual art from the Archaic and Classical periods. After an introductory chapter, which chronologically lists previous research on the topic, the second chapter offers a general overview of the artistic portrayal of Actaeon’s myth in antiquity. The core of the second part consists of a chronological discussion of representations in vase painting, where the myth of Actaeon is most frequently represented, followed by an analysis of selected reliefs.
The final chapter addresses the complex issue of the connection and potential mutual influence between visual and literary works, a theme already partially explored throughout the thesis with reference to specific monuments, especially through comparisons between scenes depicted on vases and their literary counterparts in Greek drama.
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