The Laocoon Group
The Laocoon Group from page 96 in our text (Fig. 3.30). This statue depicts a scene from Virgil 's Aeneid. The scene takes place shortly after attempting to warn the Trojan 's not to bring the horse into the city, Laocoon goes to the altar of Poseidon with his sons to make a sacrifice when all three are attacked and killed by two sea serpents sent by the gods. This was because of the warning and it is even mentioned that is specifically for throwing his spear at the horse and piercing it.
One reason I chose this piece is because of the intricacy of this beautiful work. The expressions on the faces of not only on Laocoon and his sons but also the serpents truly bring to life the words of Virgil in the Aeneid. The anguish on the faces of Laocoon and his sons depict the defeat of the Trojans at the hands of the Greeks. The expression on the faces of the serpents depicts the Greek warriors ' ability to overcome their enemies and bring them to swift justice.
Another reason I chose the Laocoon Group is because I also believe it can be viewed to represent not only the struggle of Troy but the struggles up to this point in time outside of as well as within Greece. I believe the main purpose of this statue and many like it is to inspire the Greek people and remind them that they have had many victories and the gods will always be there to protect them. During the time that this statue is believed to have been created, with the fall of the Greeks to the Roman Empire and becoming a series of city-states, the mood in Greece was probably a bit somber and in need of some inspiration.
I believe that this statue also shows the importance of the gods to the Greek people. In this statue we have a punishment from the gods for an attempt to prevent the victory of the Greeks. At the same time it is a reward to the Greeks from the gods which helped them achieve victory. It shows that the Greek people had a strong belief that they were right and that the gods would see
One reason I chose this piece is because of the intricacy of this beautiful work. The expressions on the faces of not only on Laocoon and his sons but also the serpents truly bring to life the words of Virgil in the Aeneid. The anguish on the faces of Laocoon and his sons depict the defeat of the Trojans at the hands of the Greeks. The expression on the faces of the serpents depicts the Greek warriors ' ability to overcome their enemies and bring them to swift justice.
Another reason I chose the Laocoon Group is because I also believe it can be viewed to represent not only the struggle of Troy but the struggles up to this point in time outside of as well as within Greece. I believe the main purpose of this statue and many like it is to inspire the Greek people and remind them that they have had many victories and the gods will always be there to protect them. During the time that this statue is believed to have been created, with the fall of the Greeks to the Roman Empire and becoming a series of city-states, the mood in Greece was probably a bit somber and in need of some inspiration.
I believe that this statue also shows the importance of the gods to the Greek people. In this statue we have a punishment from the gods for an attempt to prevent the victory of the Greeks. At the same time it is a reward to the Greeks from the gods which helped them achieve victory. It shows that the Greek people had a strong belief that they were right and that the gods would see