The Iconography Of The Laurel Wreath - 1312 Words

The Iconography of the Laurel Wreath Historically, wreaths, particular in Ancient Greece, were used to symbolize glory, power and youthfulness. Wreaths, comprised of varying berries and branches, became a representation of a particular polis or an offering to a specific deity. Therefore, throughout ancient Greek art, wreaths are placed on subjects in pottery, paintings and sculpture. The gold wreath, simply titled Wreath, at the Getty Villa, is made up of two wires that fasten in the front with a simple hook and eye. The structure of this gold wreath derives from the form of real leaves worn in religious ceremonies and given as awards in athletic events. This paper seeks to explore the iconography and functions of wreaths in Ancient Greece. By analyzing the composition and content of the particular gold wreath at the Getty Villa, I wish to consider how iconography reveals how the object engaged with viewers and communicated specific messages. The gold wreath, simply titled Wreath, at the Getty Villa, is made up of two wires that fasten in the front with a simple hook and eye. These two wires have thinner stems decorated with laurel leaves and berries that were added by an anonymous goldsmith. The bottom half of the hollow wire showcase the broken ends of twigs. This detail showcases a naturalistic quality of this wreath. Moreover, the structure of gold wreaths derive from the form of real leaves worn in religious ceremonies and given as awards in athletic events. BecauseShow MoreRelatedFunerary Vases Essay examples1090 Words   |  5 Pagesit in yet another cloth, and laid it on a bier (funeral bed), which embodied the Greeks association between sleep and death. After the preparation of the body, the deceased persons house would be adorned with wreaths and arrangements of leaves such as marjoram, celery, myrtle, and laurel. Because the dead were believed to exist in the underworld in the form in which they exited the world of the living, proper and careful pre paration of the body was essential. In fact, failure to prepare and bury