|
10 Feb 2006 @ 11:44, by Nigella Wraye
from the Illiad of Homer, date unknown circa 1,000 BC, anyway possibly after the Flood dated up to 1,200 BC.
The beauty of Achilles’ Shield exists in the vastness of its composition and in the visual images this evokes. This I believe, is emblematic of a notion of Universal Beauty, strongly relating to the human form. A comprehension of these notions, can be applied to the Forge of Modernity not
only in the production of artefacts grand or small, but also in the critique of those works, to determine their relatedness to the human respect.
To aid to this appreciation, which is quite simple, one has to imagine, and be aware of , the number of circles incorporated within the grand design, and notice the intersections and overlapping of these circles; They will be the invisible, but it can safely be said that more the invisible circles the more the beauty. ( Of course this is an over simplification, nevertheless a beginning.) Where the circles are actual, such as at the rim and in the convex shape, will the greatest physical strength be vested – where these two characteristics are combined - each attribute causes the other a magnification in a real physical sense, increasing the intensity.
And so the text unfolds, and a stunning edifice results.
Homer describes successively the images wrought on the Shield: the Earth, Ocean and the macrocosm of the sky, even to the point of imposing the night sky upon the day sky, employing stellar references of the time, which his audience would have known and used as vital navigational aids!
Not just one but two cities are placed on the shield, one depicted with both a wedding and a heated judicial debate, the crowds arguing the case; whilst, the other city, is under siege, by two marauding armies and its inhabitants rushing about wildly. Somewhere else, a king’s estate of ripened corn fields is being worked by reapers. Next is a beautiful vineyard, heavy with bunches of grapes and its people rejoicing. Further on, a herd of cattle is placed, going to the river, with herdsmen and dogs, but these are all to be ambushed by savage lions. Still further along, a beautiful valley lies amongst the mountains, with its pastures of sheep; and then finally, in a sacred sanctuary similar to Delphi, on the craggy hillsides there is shown, a dancing place full of girls with wreaths on their heads, holding hands with boys with daggers at their waists, all dancing with acrobats, cart wheeling above, - - - like the one, Homer says, the first Human father of invention, Daidalos, placed at Knossos.
This composition of inbuilt expansiveness, is one within which one can move at will to observe, from above, as a god, if need be, this worldly piece of metal.
|
|
Category: Architecture
2 comments
10 Feb 2006 @ 11:52 by swanny : What of the Heart?
Sorry to distract perhaps...
I am engaging the Global Heart as it were.
******
Do not know what you mean, explain, please
Anything that is deemed to be sustaining to Life can be said to have heart.
10 Feb 2006 @ 15:41 by swanny : Interesting...
My apologies not sure what I mean...
was perhaps somewhat confused.
Very nice piece there by the way...
Nice imagery...
It seems almost to mirror modern times
or the archtypes are similar.
Is there an eventual resolution here,
as the odessy is somewhat mythical is it not.
Interesting thing about a shield is that it shield
out perhaps but seals in as well. An a mirror though
reflects back what one perhaps expects to see.
My am I confused or what but thankyou for the dance.
*****
Great image, thank you. There are certain things, and those only which are sustaining to Man. They are eternal things, without them it will be Phoof. We have not discovered all the things yet. While Man stays only the external world changes as a result of our actions. We must not change it too much otherwise it will not sustain us anymore. The Shield was made for Achilles in his battle with Hector son and protector of Troy, with whom he refused to fight until his dear friend who volunteered to take his place against Hector, was killed wearing Achilles armour. Achilles so angry, decided to avenge this killing of his friend and went after Hector. Hector was terrified to see Achilles approaching, so was the whole royal family watching from the walls of Troy. It had been fortold that Hector would die, and Hector knew, so he ran, ran, eventually he decided to face up to his death by Achilles . . . .
Are you able to read something into this? for I cannot.
The value of the shield is one of materiality, design of plasticity. It holds according to my thesis which has been proven, certain important clues in its modelling. This is not opinion, it is a plastic fact. One does have to be a builder, designer, process technique experienced person to be aware of this, some who are trusting in certain others' will accept, others still waiting for the experience in this life of next of course cannot apprehend, and others will be too interested in something else to bother!
This is a notion of sharing, with charity beginning at home.
Other entries in Architecture
13 Feb 2008 @ 15:53: Solar Shuttle
18 Sep 2007 @ 14:14: First Modernist
4 Sep 2007 @ 14:45: Remote Tassia 1
9 Jan 2007 @ 12:58: End of Architecture .?
5 Oct 2006 @ 09:09: Architectural Masterpieces in Waiting
9 May 2006 @ 14:39: Yogic Trilogy on Achieving Non-Violence
23 Feb 2006 @ 11:11: Ionic Equation
|
