‘눈이 그려진 술잔’의 페르소나 : 고대 그리스 도기화에서 인격화로서의 눈의 도상

Abstract

Scholars have come up with various interpretations of what eye motif means in so called ‘eye-cups’ over the past century. The oldest argument is viewed as an apotropaic purpose, and since the 1980s, it has been suggested that the eye motif acts as a mask in symposia in connection with the birth of the Greek tragedy. However, the eye motif highlighted in eye-cups may be interpreted to more fundamental perceptions related to vision. This study will consider the origin and development of eye-cups, and will examine various views presented in previous studies. Based on the visual design of the eye motif as personification, the reason may be inhered by how the eye motif in eye-cups could be adapted in various contexts according to the perspective of the ancient Greeks.<BR> From the 8th century B.C., Greek sculptors reproduced anthropomorphic figures, and in the 7th century B.C., Greek vase potters and painters also used head-shaped vases to represent human faces. At the same time, Greek artists personified their works with inscriptions. The eye-motif drawn on kylikes that appeared in the second half of the 6th century B.C., was a design that symbolically reproduces human faces in pottery, and can be seen as an extension of the method of personifying pottery. An artist would have expected that a kylix(personified) with the image of eyes would interact appropriately to the needs of various users, find a necessary role, and express a “persona” that fits it and be usefully consumed. Therefore, the iconography of the eyes in kylikes can be seen as a result of visual invention intended to realize its usefulness in various contexts.