In the works "Hunefer's Book of the Dead" and "Achilles and Ajax Playing Dice", both artists show the cultural norms of their respective cultures through religious and spiritual principles and mythological representations of characters in their societies. For Osiris, the artist of "Hunefer's Book of the Dead," an illustration of common ancient Egyptian funerary rituals describes what happens after a person's death. This work takes the viewer through the lens of the citizen of ancient Egypt offering offerings to the deceased king. This work has been used as a teaching guide on how to reach the bright side of the afterlife. As the spirit of the deceased passed through the temple that had been given to him, he saw this writing on the wall and understood how to move on to the next life. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayThe artists of both works are trying to convey a message to their viewers, even though the time period in which they worked is different. For "Hunefer's Book of the Dead," the message is instructive. For a spectator of "Achilles and Ajax playing dice", the message is to tell the myth of the characters portrayed in the work. Each work has a specific goal, and while it may seem obvious, the viewer must work to understand the meaning of the work. As seen in "Hunefer's Book of the Dead," the details of the work can complicate what the viewer takes away from the work after viewing it. The work has detailed steps that could easily be confusing. In “Achilles and Ajax Playing Dice,” one might speculate that the two are friends, and others might say that they are enemies. The nature of the game can be interpreted; some might say it's one game, others another. In addition to a message, the composition of a piece can bring it great success, or sad failure. There is no precise equation for how to make a successful work of art, but there are certainly aspects that could actually improve it. Among the many variables that contribute to the creation of a successful painting/sculpture, such as line, color, space and scale, line plays the most important role in both of these works, influencing not only the path on which the viewer look, but also a complete vision of the work. In "Hunefer's Book of the Dead", the line guides the viewer along the educational path to the afterlife. The painting moves horizontally, giving it flow and grace. The way the viewer's eye moves can make or break the overall feelings towards the work. If this work were to be spread out in, say, an irregular oval, the piece would not work. Because the painting's subjects have similar structure, posture, and purpose, the work flows together, making it easier to view. In Exekias' work the line also plays an important role. The spears resting on the shoulders of Achilles and Ajax and positioned in a manor which makes the subject of the piece clear. The table on which they are playing dice is lined with spears and is also trapped by the intense gazes of both Achilles and Ajax. While there is no obvious line between the eyes of Achilles and Ajax, they actually create an indirect line, causing the viewer to look where the characters are looking. Again, there is no absolute equation for success in art, but color, along with many other aspects, in both pieces, is another component that influences the viewer's overall view of the work. Color gives light to the imagination. Color can inspire thoughts that would not have germinated if the work had been in black and white. Thinking about the piece after seeing it is more.