The hope hygeia essays

The hope hygeia essays Standing at about seven feet tall The Hope Hygeia, a Roman copy of an original Greek sculpture, holds a very commanding presences. When I looked into her eyes, for the first time, she held my glance in way that I found difficult to turn away from. I felt almost as though she was looking right though me, as if I was just an insignificant being passing by. With a strong presence like this, it suggest that she was originally placed in a public place, perhaps a palace. Hygeia is the Greek goddess of heath and healing. She focuses her healing abilities on the power of cleanliness. Although, she was not one of the twelve major goddesses, Hygeia was and still is a significant symbol of heath and cleanliness. The word hygeia is derived from the word hugies or hygies, meaning healthy, which is also the root word for hygiene. This sculpture was of the Goddess was found on Ostia, The Port of Rome, along with The Hope of Athenian in the year 1797. This copy was sculpted in the second century A.D., after the original form which was created in 360 B.C. The medium of The Hope Hygeia is pure smooth white marble. Her arms and nose are missing, probably broken of over time. Hygeia is the ideal form, she is healthy and virtually perfect. As a freestanding sculpture, she stands in a natural relaxed position. Her garment is draped over her body in a way that enhances the look of movement. It appears to be made of two or three thin clothes. The first, is a very sheer material and is draped over her right shoulder, and you can see her right breast though it. The second, is slightly thicker and more bulky fabric, this is draped over her left shoulder and falls around her mid thigh. The bulk of the second cloth falls behind her and rest on the back of right arm and lower back. Soft lines chiseled by the artist make this possible. Her garment covers her engaged right leg and foot, but he left leg ...