Tom Rasmussen’s Interpretations of the Chigi Vase analyzes multiple friezes and determines the purpose and relevance of them. To understand why the vase was created and who was intended to view it, Rasmussen analyzes the vase in an archeological manner. He then determines who the artist is by using fundamentals of the study of art history. To analyze specific scenes to determine whether they are literal or symbolic, he uses ecological cues. Finally, a foundational knowledge of Greek mythology helps him to determine what the scene is and how it is depicted. Rasmussen uses a variety of disciplines in his article Interpretations of the Chigi Vase to formulate his argument.
Archaeology - 37
Archaeology is a sector of anthropology that uses items …show more content…
Given the markings on it, he deduces that the vase is from the Corinthian Workshop (Rasmussen 2016, 29). He later pinpoints the exact grouping the vase is from. Given the similarities to other vases, this vase is from the Chigi group (Rasmussen 2016, 29). Finally, he identifies specific traits known to be common with the Chigi Painter. He ultimately determines if it is not the Chigi Painter, it is someone very similar to him (Rasmussen 2016, 29). By determining the artist, Rasmussen can refer to other works by the same artist and determine patterns from those …show more content…
Several scenes on the Chigi Vase depict Greece’s land and the animals on them. It is important for those viewing it to have enough knowledge about Greek ecology to understand what the vase is depicting. Rasmussen combines this knowledge with history to develop an interpretation of these scenes.
Rasmussen observes that there are distinct differences in the vegetation between two scenes. The shrubby vegetation depicts a more accurate picture of Greek terrain (Rasmussen 2016, 31) whereas the countryside lion hunt is merely a symbolic depiction (Rasmussen 2016, 32). Due to the fact that lions are not indigenous to Greece, he states that it is likely that the lion hunt is meant to be seen as Paris committing a heroic act (Rasmussen 2016, 32). This knowledge helps him designate which scenes need to be interpreted literally and
Archaeology - 37
Archaeology is a sector of anthropology that uses items …show more content…
Given the markings on it, he deduces that the vase is from the Corinthian Workshop (Rasmussen 2016, 29). He later pinpoints the exact grouping the vase is from. Given the similarities to other vases, this vase is from the Chigi group (Rasmussen 2016, 29). Finally, he identifies specific traits known to be common with the Chigi Painter. He ultimately determines if it is not the Chigi Painter, it is someone very similar to him (Rasmussen 2016, 29). By determining the artist, Rasmussen can refer to other works by the same artist and determine patterns from those …show more content…
Several scenes on the Chigi Vase depict Greece’s land and the animals on them. It is important for those viewing it to have enough knowledge about Greek ecology to understand what the vase is depicting. Rasmussen combines this knowledge with history to develop an interpretation of these scenes.
Rasmussen observes that there are distinct differences in the vegetation between two scenes. The shrubby vegetation depicts a more accurate picture of Greek terrain (Rasmussen 2016, 31) whereas the countryside lion hunt is merely a symbolic depiction (Rasmussen 2016, 32). Due to the fact that lions are not indigenous to Greece, he states that it is likely that the lion hunt is meant to be seen as Paris committing a heroic act (Rasmussen 2016, 32). This knowledge helps him designate which scenes need to be interpreted literally and