title: Determination of the method of construction of 1650 B.C. wall paintings.
abstract: In this paper, a methodology of general applicability is presented for answering the question if an artist used a number of archetypes to draw a painting or if he drew it freehand. In fact, the contour line parts of the drawn objects that potentially correspond to archetypes are initially spotted. Subsequently, the exact form of these archetypes and their appearance throughout the painting is determined. The method has been applied to celebrated Thera Late Bronze Age wall paintings with full success. It has been demonstrated that the artist or group of artists has used seven geometrical archetypes and seven corresponding well-constructed stencils (four hyperbolae, two ellipses, and one Archimedes' spiral) to draw the wall painting "Gathering of Crocus" in 1650 B.C. This method of drawing seems to be unique in the history of arts and of great importance for archaeology, and the history of mathematics and sciences, as well.
authors.affiliation: National Technical University of Athens, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 9 Heroon Polytechneiou, GR-15773, Athens, Greece. cpapaod@cs.ntua.gr
authors.forename: Constantin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Papaodysseus
authors.forename: Dimitrios K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Fragoulis
authors.forename: Mihalis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Panagopoulos
authors.forename: Thanasis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Panagopoulos
authors.forename: Panayiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rousopoulos
authors.forename: Mihalis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Exarhos
authors.forename: Angelos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skembris
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods*; D010151:Paintings; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods*