Search results

The concept of time in ancient Greek belief = Aion; It is a term used to express life span and eternal life. Within the concept of time, this concept, which expresses the duration of human life and the time and eternity before the beginning of everything, is not depicted in any kind of art until the Late Hellenistic period. Influenced by Egyptian and Persian beliefs, he was reflected in Greek art as a syncretic god. After this period, he began to be depicted as a human-shaped creature with the head of a lion and wings on his shoulders. He usually holds a scepter and a key in his hands with a snake entwined with him or his body. It has been a matter of debate to definitively consider these depictions as Aion. However, we come across depictions that we can define as Aion in the Roman Imperial Period. In almost all depictions, he is personified as a male figure with bushy and gray hair, old or young, usually holding the zodiac circle in one hand, as well as a globe, papyrus roll, and horn of fertility. The personification of Aion, which appeared in the art of this period, was used to propagate the eternity and eternality of the Empire.