The Versace advertisement for the cologne ‘EROS’ looks heavily influenced by the Roman Empire and Ancient Greek eras. I can see a reference to a strong Hercules, the man being very statuesque, muscular, hard-faced and able to keep a firm grip on the large bottle that looks to carry some weight. Hercules being a very desired man, with the perfect hair and face structure, a very solid stance and a showing off parts of his naked flesh, to attract women and make any man want to be him. This advertisement is also very reminiscent of Michelangelo’s statue of David who also has his muscular body on show with a powerful stance. I also see signs of a classical Greek sculpture as he has a more naturalistic pose. A Greek sculpture tends to be focused on proportion and the idealised perfection of the human body, which is reminiscent in the advertisement. The sculptures were also either stone or bronze; in the Versace advertisement we can see that the male model has tanned skin similar to those of the bronze sculptures. We can also see the use of the Meander (Art), which is a decorative border constructed from a continuous line, which is formed into a continual motif around his robe and also around the bottle of the fragrance. This type of art is a key design in Ancient Greece. Another symbol found on his robe is the use of a
serpent. Snakes are linked to rituals and good and evil, they can be used as a symbol of fertility, guardianship, poison or medicine or vengefulness. In the advertisement the snake could symbolise his strength and his guardianship, it is said that when snakes are threatened they hold and defend their ground, with the way the model is standing it could be seen that he is standing his ground and being almighty. I also see references to a solider or perhaps a warrior, reminding me of the Spartans period. The Spartans are known for the way they dress, with muscular frames, dark tans and golden body armour. They are also portrayed with a red robe around their necks, all these themes I can see in the advertisement from the robe floating off and around his body, to his skin being golden and to him having a mesomorphic body type. It makes me think of the TV programme Spartacus; in this the men are chosen individually based on how strong they are and if they are able to stand their own ground. The men chosen are very reminiscent of the male model in the advertisement, when shown off to the public in the ‘Arena’ they are oiled up and made to look like perfection, just like the model.