Comparing between Vase Paintings and Iliad Scenes

Comparing between Vase Paintings and Iliad Scenes

A review ofvase painting help in analyzing specific episodes of the Trojan War goes against the representation of Homer literature, as shown via Iliad. This essay would assess an art depicting Achilles as he reclines on his dining cough with meat in one hand and knife in the other and drips of blood from the meat onto which Hector lies dead beneath him. Such work would allow the re-examination of the possible cause of the said deviation with the view to understanding the issues that could arise when utilizing visual representations as validations in representing a specific concept in poetry. The variations in artistic images among the ancient artists emerge because some artists wanted to optimize their art instead of other sources.

The fundamental understanding in Greek art shows that explaining narrative requires the display of basic variations by a specific artist on a given work. At the same time, the artist’s “gamut changes in a constant way as it responds to the external incentives and partly presenting a reflection of the internal dynamics of a given form of art” (Chandima 56). In this regard, the pattern of “naming scenes and figuresbetween 650 and 630 BC bestowed an identity to a specific episode” (Bloom147). Examples of such scenes prevail when warrior fight over a fallen comrade, a warrior preparing for war, or one lifting up a dead comrade which traditionally could have been generic..

The demonstration of visuals in the Homer-based Iliad, by these artists, seem to focus less on showing similar scenes. However, in their attempt to display these scenes, they emphasized on the latter aspect of the poem. For instance, after the return of Achilles to the battleground, artists emphasize more on Achilles’ wrath towards Hector after he had killed Patroklos. As a result, “during the deceased’ funeral, Achilles drags the body of the dead Hector behind the chariot” (Chandima 58). At this time, one could perceive that the artist presents a simplified representation apart from Hector’s ransom (Bloom 154). Also, the first display of Achilles was his preparation for war at Troy in various settings. There is a notion that the artist had earlier on shown interest in the episodes involving Hector’s demise.

The manner and approach that an artist could use in describing a given scene, no matter through synoptic, monoscenic, cyclic or continuous depiction of it varies from that of poetry because of many explanations. They include the “artist’s choice of literacy, personal stimuli and human exposure and more so, consumer’s needs” (Chandima 55). Apart from the typical differences between poetic and visual representations, other explanations could create an understanding of the deviation of the vase painting from Homeric versions. First, there are high chances that the artist understood both “Homeric poems and the variations in the texts of the same legend or myth” (Chandima 56). For example, some verses could have highlighted different elements or aspects of Homer’s favorite tale. At this point, Homer would not be the only source of inspiration for vase artists but utilized the dramatic representations in the form of tragedy and folktales as for their other source of motivation (Chandima 64).This situation could mean that artists first interacted with stories and folktales hence gaining the primary aspects of epic subjects on vases before 530 B.C.

There is also a likelihood that the vase painter forgot or did not know the Homeric or traditional narratives.  The lateral aspect in the vase painting could emerge due to artistic license, or the urge to presenting their versions of work hence summarizing through mixing a series of scenes of a story (Chandima 59). Next, the application of traditional iconography among these artists could have played out in creating unique patterns in such works. Lastly, the addition of labels to generic episodes to establish work identity, suitable information that highlights generic events could conflict with the current setting.

Conclusively, the presented vase paints reveal that artists could deviate from the traditional norms and create new trends that make their work different, as shown in vase and Iliad paintings. As highlighted, many reasons contributed to such scenario hence establishing new patterns in art.

Works Cited

Chandima M., W. VISUAL REPRESENTATIONS OF THE TROJAN WAR IN ATTIC CLAY VASES. Sri Lanka Humanities, June 23 2011.  Reviewed from: https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ALeKk02aoUlJzm6ljJLNcLQPm8D2SYhJ8w%3A1582515886691&source=hp&ei=rkZTXvPvJ9GdjLsPo72-wAo&q=VISUAL+REPRESENTATIONS+OF+THE+TROJAN+WAR+IN+ATTIC+CLAY+VASES+&oq=VISUAL+REPRESENTATIONS+OF+THE+TROJAN+WAR+IN+ATTIC+CLAY+VASES+&gs_l=psy-ab.12…2066. 2066..5979…0. 0..0.727.727.6-1……0….2j1.gws-wiz. aTC1E-krGyo&ved=0ahUKEwjz_pmKo-nnAhXRDmMBHaOeD6gQ4dUDCAo

Bloom Harold. The Iliad: Homer Updated Edition. Google books, April 2, 2014. Reviewed from: https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=u0iPy6A8HlgC&pg=PA149&lpg=PA149&dq=Comparison+between+Vase+painting+and+Iliad:+Achilles+and+Homer&source=bl&ots=5YDJoWglFG&sig=ACfU3U13Bu-MVIOw4zAPn5-b0oZaA3p5dg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiHk_W9_-jnAhXcQUEAHWR6AsUQ6AEwBnoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=Comparison%20between%20Vase%20painting%20and%20Iliad%3A%20Achilles%20and%20Homer&f=false