Below, I have pasted what I have written so far. None of this can be used if you wish, or some of it can, but it seems to be all over the place but I am giving you this so you can see the main idea of what this paper is about. There are no citations in this so that would have to change but a complete restart would be preferred. Detailed instructions are posted underneath this essay.
Ceramic Bowl with Shore Scene
An engraved piece of slipware, particularly the Bowl with Shore Scene, is found in the “Ceramic Arts of Everyday Life” in The Glory of Byzantium and I will be examining and analyzing this piece of art by understanding the themes that represent it. This piece of art focuses on the message of dominance, power, and social status and these are the main themes I will be discussing while also examining the relationship of these themes to the Byzantine world. The Bowl with Shore Scene, as well as other engraved slipware at this time, creates a story which is not related to the actual hunt of an animal for food, but instead shows a sign of power. These images of hunting show authority and success rather than hunting as a form of leisure. This particular piece of engraved slipware from the 12th century shows the narrative of a Siren preying on a water bird preying on a passing fish. In the end, the water bird eats both the fish and the Siren, which is ironic in the sense that the eater is being eaten. The Siren is a rapacious sea creature from the Greek and Roman descent and is related to luxury goods such as silver and silk. The aesthetic throughout these engraved slipwares is shown through the contrast of tonal color which creates a need and want for a simple use of surface detail. These engraved slipwares were commonly related to the success of the owner in means of being able to provide food as well as being able to provide glazed pottery for decoration . In both cases, this piece of art was made for one who exhibits the need for prosperity and power due to the symbolism of hunting during the Byzantine Empire as well as the reasoning behind why a Siren, a water bird, and a fish were chosen for this piece of art.
An engraved slipware bowl measuring 7.1 cm by 20.8 cm depicts a shore scene that has been reassembled from large fragments dating back to the 12th century. By analyzing the color, the background is lighter and the outlines of the creatures are much darker which creates a pleasing aesthetic by using neutral tones which in this case is light beige and dark brown. This bowl specifically stands out because of the measles waves which is implying the specs of random spots instead of the use of colored glaze in lines and rows of engraved marks which is seen on metalwork. The physical appearance of the bowl depicts a common yet beautiful type of art work during this time period. The glazing technique used on this engraved slipware created a smooth ceramic while also being able to hide some of the blemishes on the pottery piece. All around the Byzantine Empire, there were pottery workshops that taught people the glazing techniques and these household ceramics were often art depicted from scenes seen on vessels made of silver and other expensive materials. These engraved slipwares were also commonly called sgraffiato ware and it is earthware that is partially covered with a pale slip layer and then coated with a transparent glaze which gives it a smoother surface and improves its appearance, while also hiding or touching up any inferior colors or used for decorative appeals. What is interesting is that the patterns are made by through the slip with a sharp point or by scraping it away to reveal the darker ground. This bowl is secular and was used for either serving or display. The monochromatic shimmer from imported lusterware is shown through this piece while the dots lining the lip refer to the scallops and their discontinuous pattern evolves a framing rhythm to the composition as a whole. These visual elements have a deeper meaning which relates to the sea.
The bowl shows a Siren, which is a human-headed female bird and this one specifically has a fish-shaped eye, preying on a water bird who is preying on a fish. The irony of this piece is that the eater is being eaten since the water bird eats the fish and the Siren eats the water bird.
The iconography of this piece of art begins with the Siren. This bowl shows her violent nature being implicit meaning she tends to rests on her victims in order to kill them rather than going straight to attacking it with her claws. This shows a desire for dominance and plenty . The shore scene depicts one of a hierarchy that one cannot control. The Siren in the scene is dramatically looking away while it sits atop the water bird getting ready to kill while the water bird is standing up staring at the fish, which is to the right of the water bird and Siren in the scene, but with a frightened look in the eyes. It is as if the Siren has a sense of guilt for a split second but the fight for dominance and power overcomes it. The fact that the water bird is depicted much larger than the Siren on the bowl and the fish being similar in size to the Siren, it depicts symbolism in which power can be described in ways other than size. The Siren is the winner, not the water bird. “Hunting, traditionally an aristocratic activity, was enthusiastically supported by Byzantine emperors, and the Byzantine hunter was offered an exciting and challenging selection of wild animals: lions, gazelles, leopards, antelopes, hippopotami, foxes, stags, bears, and hares.” This quote provides intel on how hunting was depicted and thought of during this time period. Hunting was a sport that symbolized the thrive for power and dominance among one another. This symbolism is seen in the Bowl with Shore Scene.
Furthermore, the symbolism behind the use of the Siren to depict the top of the hierarchy in the scene is an interesting choice. Sirens, in Greek mythology, are sea creatures that are known to be seductive towards people in order for them to lure them close and then kill them. She was able to do so by singing a song and the sweetness in her voice grabbed the attention of the sailors and lured them to her and even managing to be able to get the sailors to crash their ships into the rocky coast of her island. It is said that the Sirens were linked closely to the sea which put them as daughters of Phorcys. It is interesting because later in art history the Sirens are portrayed more as mermaids than they are here as human-birds. The lower half of the creature transformed into something that can live in the water or land which is most likely an evolutionary linkage in terms of natural selection since the Sirens were so closely connected to the sea. This is when some Sirens were depicted in beautiful ways whereas their seductive voices weren’t used as much as their physical appearance. Sirens were commonly discouraged through religion, specifically Christianity, by the late fourth century. Even though they were discouraged through religion, they continued to be seen as a symbol for the potentially dangerous and deadly temptation and seduction a woman can empower.
As mentioned above, the iconography within this one piece of artwork has numerous meanings and interpretations and I am just getting started at analyzing all of the research I have conducted. The Siren represents more than just a winner, she represents the will to fight for power and the determination to win. The Siren also depict woman as strong and vicious creature when needs be. Overall, this piece of art represents more than just a bowl with a few animals on it, it represents the thrive for power within the Byzantine Empire and the will to succeed.
(Rough Outline I created but these ideas/questions can be expanded from and new ones can be added as well; paper instructions below the outline)
Intro
• Project stated
o Underlying themes
• Thesis stated
Body
• Description of object (date provenance, state of preservation, material/technique  glazing, pottery construction, iconography)
o Size, dimensions, and any other descriptions of this object
• Analyze the formal elements of line, color, composition.
o Use Liz James source to interpret the meaning of colors used
o Why was this pottery technique used?
o Analyze why a Siren was used
 Power, hierarchy
• Where is this from? Corinth
o Describe where Corinth is
o Brief history of Corinth
o What is was like in the 12th century
o Overall art in Corinth
• How does it compare to other examples of pottery?
o From the same period?
 Compare to a few bowls from same time
o From early or later periods?
 Compare to a few bowls from different time
• What is this display of power doing on a plate?
• To whom is the image directed?

Sources
Primary
• Delivorrias, Angelos. Greece and the Sea (Amsterdam, 1987)
• Maguire, Eunice, Art and Holy Powers in the Early Christian House (University of Illinois, 1989)
• Maguire, Eunice and Henry, Other Icons: Art and Power in Byzantine Secular Culture (Princton, 2007)
• Morgan, Charles H., The Byzantine Pottery. Vol 11 (Cambridge,1942)
o Definitely use this source

Secondary
• James, Liz. “Color and Meaning in Byzantium,” Journal of Early Christian Studies 11/2(2003): 223-33.
o Use this to expand on the color usage
• https://www.ascsa.edu.gr/uploads/media/oa_ebooks/oa_corinth/Corinth_XI.pdf
o has a lot of information on Corinth and pottery

Assignment:
Each student will write a research paper of approximately 5000 words (approximately 20 double-spaced typed pages in Times New Roman 12- point font) on one piece of artwork from the Byzantine Empire. Bibliography, notes, and any illustrations should be considered extra pages in the final page count. Footnotes and bibliography should follow the citation format used by the American Journal of Archaeology. For details see: https://www.ajaonline.org. Click on “Author Guide” at the top of the page immediately below the masthead. Click on “Bibliographical References and Notes” (on left side of page).

Paper topic: Ceramic Bowl with Shore Scene (12th century, Corinth)

Instructions:
1) Choose a good title: a good title is one that gives a clear indication of subject matter.
2) Be rigorous about structure. All papers should include the following elements: introduction, body (discussion), and conclusion in which a project is articulated, a thesis proposed and evidence marshalled in a coherent argument. In an art history paper it is also essential that there be a description of any work of art discussed.
a. Introduction: the purpose of the introduction is to set the stage for your paper. To this end describe your project, its scope and limitations, point out how it relates to the course as a whole. This is your “thesis statement” in which you articulate your subject matter and the issues it raises and the way in which you will approach the topic.
b. Body: this is where you discuss the subject in depth. In an art history paper it is often useful to proceed by first introducing the work of art that you will be discussing (and that you have mentioned in the introduction) with a description. This description, which should be systematic, is important in that it will outline the general structure of the subject along with pertinent details and thereby situate the reader. Thus, when you mention details pertinent to the object during the course of the paper, the reader will understand the reference. Once you have described the image you should introduce the main points of your discussion. As you do so be sure to stay on point. Do not jump back and forth between ideas. Keep each element of your argument separate and always link it to the larger goal of the paper. For each point you make include evidence and documentation (footnotes). That is, if you quote, report or paraphrase something that has been published cite it.
c. Conclusion. Here is the moment when you fulfill the promise of the Introduction. Recapitulate your project, summarize your discussion and clarify its implications. Come to an opinion of your own and state it.
3)Pay attention to grammar and syntax.
4)Avoid including quotations, either long or short, from secondary sources. In general, it is better to paraphrase ideas, that is to say them in your own words, and credit the source in a footnote than to quote an author directly. If you develop the habit of direct quotation your paper will read like nothing other than a patchwork of other people’s statements. Remember that your project is to read and synthesize! The exception to this rule is if you are quoting from a primary source. These kinds of direct quotation are welcome as they generally support ideas that you have formulated yourself.
5) Include a properly organized annotated bibliography (that is it should include a one- or two-sentence summary of the citation’s main ideas) and the necessary footnotes. Footnotes should be at the bottom of the page or the end of the paper, not embedded in the text. See the Dumbarton Oaks website mentioned above for the proper citation style.