The Women of Amphissa quiz

More questions about The Women of Amphissa

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1. 1 Easy

   Which posture is most common among the painting's visiting women?

   Answer: Lying down

   Why: Plutarch says the Thyiads roamed all night in Bacchic frenzy, strayed into Amphissa and fell asleep in the market square just where they dropped.

2. 2 Medium

   Why are the women of Amphissa depicted with solemn expressions?

   Answer: Guarding sleeping guests

   Why: Amphissa was full of Phocian soldiers, so its women ringed the sleeping Thyiades in silence and later escorted them safely to the border.

3. 3 Hard

   Which book by Plutarch contains the story depicted in the painting?

   Answer: Mulierum Virtutes

   Why: Plutarch dedicated the collection to Clea, who led the Thyiades at Delphi, the very sisterhood shown asleep in the Amphissa market.

4. 4 Easy

   What is the primary activity of the local townswomen?

   Answer: Standing watch

   Why: Fearing the soldiers quartered in their town, the women later won their husbands' consent and escorted the strangers safely to the border.

5. 5 Medium

   What type of leaves are woven into hair in The Women of Amphissa?

   Answer: Ivy

   Why: Ivy was Dionysus's evergreen emblem, worn by his maenads; laurel belonged to Apollo, whose oracle at Delphi lay 20 km from Amphissa.

6. 6 Hard

   What architectural style is visible in the columns of the painting?

   Answer: Doric order

   Why: Doric shafts rise from the pavement with no base, and above the market Alma-Tadema painted the order's frieze of triglyphs and carved metopes.