OLYMPIA (2020) Painting by Orest Hrytsak

Canvas is called Olympia. It is inspired by Greek mythology, with on one side the Olympian deities and on the other the photos of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lisa Lyon made by Robert Mapplethorpe. The name comes from Mount Olympus on which resides the pantheon of divinities with Zeus at its head as well as Mr. Olympia, the international bodybuilding competition organized every year by the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB). This title of Mr. Olympia is considered to be the highest honor in the practice of professional bodybuilding. Arnold Schwarzenegger first became known from the 1970s by becoming one of the greatest bodybuilders, notably by winning five Mr Universe titles and seven Mr Olympia titles. Lisa Lyon, an American bodybuilder and model, is considered one of the pioneers of female body building. Lyon participated in the world championship of bodybuilding pro women in Los Angeles in 1979. She then appeared in many magazines and television shows, to promote bodybuilding for women. She has also written a weightlifting (or weight lifting) training book titled Lisa Lyon's Body Magic. She has been listed since 2000 in the IFFB Hall of Fame as an ambassador of sport to the media and for having raised bodybuilding to the level of art. Scharzenegger and Lyon are both pictured atop Olympus on either side of the hero Hercules. The Greeks worshiped Hercules both as a god and as a hero, this cult was very popular. The hero (in ancient Greek ἥρως) is a man of exceptional courage and bravery. Son of Zeus (Jupiter) and a mortal, Hercules is considered a demigod. The kings of Sparta, Macedonia and Hellenistic Egypt, representatives of many aristocratic families of the ancient world, were considered the descendants of Hercules. The hero was also honored in Rome. Herodotus placed the life of Hercules at around 900 BC, that is, in the 14th century BC. The Chronicle of Paros places it around 1300 BC. The ancient philosophers were interested in the choice that Hercules had to make at the beginning of his journey between vice and virtue symbolized by two women. The first, personifying vice, offers the young hero an easy and happy life filled with pleasures while the second, embodying virtue, tells him about noble and lofty deeds, ceaseless work and moderation. Hercules chooses the latter. Through this exemplary choice of ancient culture, the physical power of the hero is seen as intellectual and moral strength, self-discipline and a movement towards a high goal. Hercules in performing his twelve labors surpassed all other heroes in strength and courage. Ancient authors link the start of the Olympic Games to Hercules. According to Pindar, the hero imagined these games and created a prize (a wreath of wild olives imported from the land of the Hyperboreans). He said the standard 600 feet long for Olympic stadiums was established. Indeed, the foot of Hercules measured 32 cm and he ran 600 feet without catching his breath. According to Herodotus, Hercules founded the temple of Zeus in Olympia and erected six double altars dedicated to the twelve gods. He became one of the first winners of the Pankration (wrestling method) event at the Olympic Games. He also fought with Zeus, his father, and their fight ended without a winner. At the end of his life Hercules, poisoned by his wife, suffered and decided to die by fire. When the fire broke out, a cloud appeared and transported the hero to Olympus. There, Hercules was accepted among the immortal gods, while his mortal shadow was doomed to wander the realm of the dead. We must also mention the famous performance hall of the Olympia in Paris. It is the oldest music hall in Paris still in operation. It has been the property of the Vivendi group since 2001. The Olympia stage has seen celebrities from all over the world. I must mention the icon of the Transfiguration, Jesus on Mount Tabor. It is a change in the bodily appearance of Jesus for a few moments of his earthly life to reveal his divine nature to three disciples. Transfiguration is the theophanic feast, revelation of all the people of the holy trinity. It is the foreshadowing (metamorphosis) of the bodily condition announced to Christians for their own resurrection. The mountain of the place of the Transfiguration refers to Mount Horeb and Mount Sinai, two highly symbolic places in the Old Testament. This hypothesis is corroborated by the presence alongside Christ of Moses and Elijah whose missions are linked to these two places.

Related themes

OlympiaArnoldschwarzeneggerLisalyonMythologieBodybuilding