'The School of Athens'

The Renaissance period was the time of knowledge and the arts. People were gaining, experimenting with and exploring new knowledge, the key element of the 'rebirth' after the Middle Ages and The School of Athens shows just that. To bring out the best of his time, Raphael decided to paint all of the greatest thinkers, Philosophers, Mathematicians and Scientists in one area, to emphasize the importance of knowledge. The focus of the painting that gives it away is in fact the focal point, an artistic technique developed and used in the Renaissance period. The focal point of the artwork is Plato with his apprentice Aristotle. Plato and Aristotle, next to being the main focus of the painting, divide it into two separate sections; Mathematics and Science, two of the most experimented and researched subjects the Renaissance built on. 'The School of Athens' is a reminder of the base the Renaissance was built on. This painting was and still is able to sum up the purpose of the Renaissance.

Who Am I?

Amongst the geniuses and significant thinkers, I place myself as a symbol, Athena. Athena was a deity of the ancient greeks. She was the Goddess of war, wisdom, arts and justice. In 'The School of Athens', Athena gazes down upon the scientists who are discussing and revealing the new ideas that supported the Renaissance. I feel I am like Athena because I share a passion for the traits she is known for. I too find a great interest in the arts, learning and creating but also, to a limit, destroying. I have always been intrigued by war and why it comes around and how there is not always the sense of fairplay. Having avdantages has always been a good thing in my opinion but when the advantage was not earned in a fair way, I can't help but feel injustice. Athena was also the icon of wisdom which was much of the time focused around Science, which is also my forte is school. Athena and I posess similar characteristics but in the same way we are so different.