Ancient art plays a significant role in helping the individuals of the current generation explain the civilizations of the ancient past. Archaeologists preserved some early Greek art to show the civilization that these people underwent. Homilies on the Virgin is an old Christian Greek drawing representing the life of society in the 14th century. Fresco painted the Bull-leaping fresco from Knossos art to depict the civilizations of the people. Both portray the people’s religion; however, Homilies on the Virgin shows Christianity, while Bull-leaping fresco from Knossos portrays god worshipping.
The Homilies on the Virgin has more detailed features than the Bull-leaping fresco from Knossos. The latter has only three people and a bull, while the former has over ten people and even angels. A church building is found on the Homilies on the Virgin, while they do not represent the other drawing on a church. Homilies on the Virgin has more fine details compared to the other art. The finer details hint that the Bull-leaping fresco from Knossos is an older diagram than the other drawing.
The civilization that both the two arts portray is a religion among the Greeks. Homilies on the Virgin portray the rising of Jesus on the Pentecost (Byzantine Illuminated Manuscript). The scene displays the ascension of Jesus in colorfully decorated colors. The drawing represents the day of Pentecost with people looking above at the risen Christ. This art shows that the ancient people had already begun the act of embracing the Biblical religion. The Bull-leaping fresco from Knossos shows three people, with one person leaping over the bull (Bull-Leaping Fresco from Knossos). One individual is in front holding the bull’s horns while the other is at the back. In the Minoan civilization, they considered the bull a sacred animal. Bull festivals were common among the culture and depicted the domestication of these animals. We can conclude that the religion of the people inspired both arts.
The two arts are different because they represent different religions of the people during the periods of drawing. The Homilies on the Virgin features give a clue towards Christianity. The angels and Jesus are clear in the photo, with people observing the risen Jesus. It shows that the people had faith in God even at this historic time. The Bull-leaping fresco from Knossos has no link towards Christianity. However, it portrayed people as having other gods because, historically, the Minoan people regarded bulls as sacred animals. Both arts had an impactful way of representing the civilization that was undergoing in society. The Homilies on the Virgin used Jesus and angels to depict Christianity, while the Bull-leaping fresco from Knossos used bulls to show bull rearing and religion.
Appreciating other people’s religions is a key part of being a Christian. Christians can view different art as a way through which God has inspired adding beauty to the world. Having this perspective enables them to appreciate that God created everyone in His image. It makes one understand that every art a person creates is the image of the Almighty. 1st Corinthians 10:31 correlates with these arts as it inspires people to do things in the glory of the Lord. It thus motivates people to produce arts that inspire the glorification of God. Christians can apply this verse in viewing different arts as they think the people are doing the arts in God’s honor. They learn to appreciate every creation and everything on earth.
References
“Bull-Leaping Fresco from Knossos.” Daily Life through History, ABC-CLIO, 2021, Web.
“Byzantine Illuminated Manuscript.” Daily Life through History, ABC-CLIO, 2021, Web.