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Grapevine and Making Wine Scene
Gandhara, A.D. 3rd century, Schist
W: 54.5 cm H: 16 cm
This relief depicts a grapevine of gentle curved lines, rounded leaves and abundant bunches of grapes with expression avoiding sharp touches. Despite prevailing strong decorative features at first glance, there is a historical fact hidden in this work. It is a wine-making technique that is said to have been transmitted from ancient Greece. Two figures are represented on the far right of the relief. As the story unfolds from the right to the left, the first element of the scene is a construction where the grape juice is filtered and pours into a fermentation container. The figure standing aside, although there is slight damage to the carving, carries a leather bag on his left shoulder and a bowl in his right hand. |
The other figure facing him, is holding on to the ceiling with one hand and with one foot treading on a large container put on the ground. This is the scene of removing the lid covering the container after the fermentation process has been completed. Because the gas that has accumulated inside, it is supposed to prevent the lid from being blown into the air. The story of this relief begins with another relief that might have been on the right and probably depicted a scene of trampling the grapes and squeezing out the juice. This relief is a very interesting and valuable work of art recording life at that time in its corner. |
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