The 600-year-old Bergen dice is one of thirty that have been discovered in Norway but has a special quality. It is likely that it was used for cheating; the dice is missing its sides with one and two dots and instead has two sides with four and five dots, respectively (Jarus, 2018). There is a possibility that the dice was designed for a particular game that needed those specific attributes. Most researchers agree that its primary goal was most likely to give the gambler an advantage in a game where scoring high translated into success while scoring low was eliminated for the user. The artifact also reflects the betting situation in Bergen at the time. Though it was outlawed in 1276, it hardly stopped people from gambling. The street where the dice was found used to facilitate pubs and was, therefore, a likely place to bet games.
The Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel varies from the dice in a myriad of ways as an artifact. Primarily, Michelangelo’s work has religious purposes and is completely different in scale. The piece was also commissioned in a legal manner (Cartwright, 2020). The fresco itself exhibited bright colors in large areas, with contrasting tones side by side. Michelangelo had made decisions that took into consideration the viewing of the Chapel from below by reducing dark and light shades, perspective techniques, and foreshortening. Though both artifacts have their origins within a century of each other, their purposes divide them. After all, the Sistine Chapel is an astounding work of art; it is first and foremost a religious statement while the dice is a reflection of entertaining pastimes. Contemporary human creative expression elevates humanity by depicting it through the perspective of individuals that perceive it whether it is for philosophical, entertainment, financial, or other intention.
References
Cartwright, Mark. “Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel Ceiling.” World History Encyclopedia, 2020, Web.
Jarus, Owen. “That’s Cheating! Medieval Dice with No 1 or 2 Found on Street in Norway”. LiveScience, 2018, Web.