[Your instructor's name]
[The course]
[The date]
Out of the colossal choice of various objects bringing the olden days to life that are available at Getty Villa, my attention was caught by the Head of Apollo. Apollo is depicted in Sophocles' "Oedipus the King" as a Greek oracle to whom Oedipus comes for advice (Sophocles, 45). Apollo is described as a god associated with youth and light (Sophocles, 86). The Getty Villa notes on Apollo mention that the god of poetry, music and prophecy was frequently portrayed as a romanticized youth with his hair arranged in his original banded bow.
The Head of Apollo caught my eye because it looks so close to life. Although it was badly damaged, it still conveys so much meaning about one of the most famous and popular Greek gods. He looks almost real with his lips slightly parted, as if he is about to say something. The Getty Villa note says that the Head probably had been inlaid with valuable stones. But even this way, it seems as if Apollo is looking at the visitors. The statue radiates youth and beauty through artful work of the master.
Apollo's youth and profound wisdom are so well depicted in this fragment of a statue. I do not know what it was - the choice of marble for material, the artist's talent, the notoriety of the figure depicted, or all of them together, but that very sculpture made me feel the breath of ancient history.
The artist did a fantastic job depicting Apollo. I think that observing the works of art like this help people to get a better perception of the ancient history and literature.
Works cited
Sophocles. Oedipus the King. New York: Pocket Books, 2005. Print.
