After Alexander the Great’s death in 323 BCE, the question was no longer if humans could become gods but how. This talk recounts how Hellenistic kings (and queens!) experimented with achieving divinity, from mimicking heroes of yore like Alexander the Great to flaunting giant siege towers like Demetrios Poliorketes to appropriating non-Greek traditions like Arsinoe II. The Hellenistic world was one of immense artistic creativity as it struggled to portray what, if anything, separated the gods from humanity.

Led by:
Joe Currie, Graduate Student Intern, Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art

Please check in with museum staff at the Visitor Services desk in the Calderwood Courtyard to request to join the gallery talk. Space is limited, and talks are available on a first-come, first-served basis; no registration is required.