Michael Duigan

Statue or God – what is a Greek cult image?

The lecture will be on March 25th at 7pm
in the Bertrand Russell Room, Conway Hall
25 Red Lion Square, WC1R 4RL.

Our lecturer Michael Duigan has spoken to us on several previous occasions on the art and sculpture of the classical world. He has provided this abstract of the lecture

Created from the most expensive materials, using the finest craftsmanship and housed in magnificent temples… what exactly were the cult images of the ancient Greeks? Was the god though to be immanent in the statue – or was it seen merely as a manmade artifact? Heraclitus derided his fellow Greeks for talking to their statues! Plato said they were lifeless! Xenophanes said that if horses and oxen could carve statues their ‘gods would be horses and oxen then’! Some philosophers are sceptical about the nature of these cult statues but poets, dramatists and actual ritual practice suggest that many people did believe them to have divine significance.

As is the case for all lectures, this one is free of charge for EMAS members, while a fee of £3 is payable by non-members in cash at the lecture.

Since the lecture room has a capacity of 35 people, we would be grateful if you could send an email to theEMASsecretary@gmail.com to let us know that you are planning to attend. We hope to see you there.