The tragedy of the one guy who was right about the Trojan Horse - Noah Charney

Summary

The script narrates the ancient tale of Laocoön, a Trojan priest whose warning against the Greeks' wooden horse was ignored, leading to a tragic end for him and his sons. The story inspired the renowned 'Laocoön and His Sons' sculpture, a masterpiece of Hellenistic Baroque style, which profoundly influenced Michelangelo and the Mannerism movement, shaping the dramatic portrayal of the human form in Renaissance art.

Takeaways

• 🏰 The Greeks laid a ten-year siege on Troy, culminating in the famous 'Trojan Horse' ruse.
• 🐎 The Trojans initially celebrated the Greek 'surrender', bringing the wooden horse into their city.
• 🔮 Laocoön, a Trojan priest, warned against accepting the horse, suspecting a Greek trick.
• 🗡 Laocoön attempted to expose the horse by thrusting his sword into it, but found nothing.
• 🌊 The gods, favoring the Greeks, sent serpents to punish Laocoön for his actions, leading to his and his sons' death.
• 🎭 Laocoön's story was retold in various forms, including Virgil's 'The Aeneid' and Sophocles' play.
• 🗿 The 'Laocoön and His Sons' marble statue is the most famous depiction of the priest's tale, embodying the Hellenistic Baroque style.
• 🕰 The statue's creation date is debated, with theories ranging from 200 BCE to 68 CE.
• 🎨 The sculpture's intense and dramatic depiction of the human form influenced Michelangelo and the development of Mannerism.
• 🔥 The original statue was lost after the fire that destroyed Domus Aurea in 109 CE.
• 🌟 The rediscovery of 'Laocoön and His Sons' in 1506 had a profound impact on Michelangelo, inspiring a new artistic approach.

Q & A

What was the significance of the enormous wooden horse left by the Greeks during the siege of Troy?

The enormous wooden horse was a deceptive gift from the Greeks, which the Trojans initially saw as a symbol of surrender. However, it was actually part of a scheme to infiltrate the city, leading to the fall of Troy.

Who was Laocoön and why was he suspicious of the wooden horse?

Laocoon was a seer and priest among the Trojans. He was suspicious of the wooden horse because of the Greeks' reputation for trickery and warned his fellow Trojans not to accept the offering.

What did Laocoön do to express his suspicion of the wooden horse?

Laocoon thrust his sword into the belly of the wooden horse to check for hidden men, but found nothing, and the crowd did not heed his warning.

What was the role of the gods in the story of Laocoön and the fall of Troy?

The gods had decided to grant the Greeks victory and ensured the success of their scheme to infiltrate Troy. Poseidon, in particular, sought to punish Laocoön for threatening the plan by sending serpents to kill him and his sons.

How did the tragic death of Laocoön and his sons occur?

Two great serpents emerged from the sea and descended on Laocoön and his sons, resulting in their violent deaths, which went unnoticed amid the celebrations of the Trojans.

Which ancient works mention the story of Laocoön?

The story of Laocoön is mentioned in Virgil's epic poem 'The Aeneid' and Sophocles composed a play about the priest. The most famous depiction is a marble statue called 'Laocoon and His Sons'.

What is the Hellenistic Baroque style, and how is the sculpture 'Laocoon and His Sons' an epitome of this style?

The Hellenistic Baroque style is known for its dramatic facial expressions and contorted figures. The sculpture 'Laocoon and His Sons' is the epitome of this style due to its intense portrayal of the figures writhing in agony and the desperation and hopelessness depicted on their faces.

What was the significance of the sculpture 'Laocoon and His Sons' in the art world, especially during the Renaissance?

The sculpture 'Laocoon and His Sons' was significant as it greatly influenced Michelangelo and sparked the artistic movement called Mannerism, which emphasized the exaggeration and twisting of human bodies for dramatic effect.

How did the discovery of the 'Laocoon and His Sons' statue in 1506 impact Michelangelo?

The discovery of the statue had a profound impact on Michelangelo, influencing his approach to representing the human body with contorted poses and muscular, hyperextended figures, as seen in his work in the Sistine Chapel.

What is Mannerism, and how did the statue 'Laocoon and His Sons' contribute to its development?

Mannerism is an artistic movement characterized by the exaggeration and twisting of human bodies for dramatic effect. The statue 'Laocoon and His Sons' contributed to its development by inspiring Michelangelo's new style, which then influenced other artists throughout the 1500s.

Why was the statue 'Laocoon and His Sons' lost, and how was it rediscovered?

The statue was lost when the Domus Aurea was consumed by fire in 109 CE. It was rediscovered in 1506 when Pope Julius II unearthed it, and Michelangelo was among those who were astonished by its dramatic musculature and curving shapes.