Death and Despair in Antiquity: Experience Greek Sculpture Anew

When ancient beauty makes pain visible

The public tour Death and Despair: Representations of Suffering in Antiquity invites you on October 25, 2026, to the collection of plaster casts of ancient sculptures in Göttingen. The focus is on an art historical examination of physical pain, emotional suffering, and expressive power in Greek sculpture.

Between ideal form and human vulnerability

Greek sculpture is known for its balanced aesthetics, clear form language, and convincing body representation. Yet behind the apparent calm of many artworks, dramatic narratives emerge. The tour explores how artists staged suffering not only as a narrative motif but also through physical posture, tense movement, and expressive facial expressions.

Marsyas and Laocoön: Myth as a Visual Language of Pain

Particular attention is given to the mythological stories of Marsyas and Laocoön. Their fates lead deep into the ancient engagement with excess, punishment, despair, and human helplessness. In the sculptures, dramatic action, anatomical precision, and highly developed composition combine to create an intense aesthetic experience.

Plaster casts as scientific and cultural mediators

The collection of plaster casts provides direct access to ancient sculpture and visually illustrates art historical connections. The three-dimensional encounter with bodies, drapery, axes of movement, and spatial effect supports a focused examination of the works. As a respected university collection, the site connects research, cultural education, and illustrative communication.

A tour with Iris Depreux

The tour is led by Iris Depreux from the Archaeological Institute. The 45-minute tour starts at 11:15 AM and takes you through the exhibition rooms on the first and second floors. According to the event calendar, no registration is required.

Conclusion: Ancient Art between Beauty and Abyss

This tour presents Greek sculpture beyond a purely idealized concept of beauty. Art enthusiasts experience how ancient artworks translate pain, fear, and despair into precise forms, dynamic movements, and compelling mythological scenes. Those who want to directly experience the emotional power of ancient sculpture and the exhibition atmosphere of the Göttingen plaster cast collection should attend this live tour.

Official channels of the Archaeological Institute and the plaster cast collection:

• Instagram: no official profile found
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• Website: https://www.uni-goettingen.de/de/133285.html

Sources:

• Event calendar of the Georg-August University Göttingen
• Göttingen Campus Event Calendar
• Archaeological Institute and plaster cast collection
• Cultural Heritage Lower Saxony: Archaeological Institute Göttingen