<P> It is popularly thought that their gestures indicate central aspects of their philosophies, for Plato, his Theory of Forms, and for Aristotle, his empiricist views, with an emphasis on concrete particulars . Many interpret the painting to show a divergence of the two philosophical schools . Plato argues a sense of timelessness whilst Aristotle looks into the physicality of life and the present realm . However, Plato's Timaeus was, even in the Renaissance, a very influential treatise on the cosmos, whereas Aristotle insisted that the purpose of ethics is "practical" rather than "theoretical" or "speculative": not knowledge for its own sake, as he considered cosmology to be . </P> <P> The building is in the shape of a Greek cross, which some have suggested was intended to show a harmony between pagan philosophy and Christian theology (see Christianity and Paganism and Christian philosophy). The architecture of the building was inspired by the work of Bramante, who, according to Vasari, helped Raphael with the architecture in the picture . Some have suggested that the building itself was intended to be an advance view of St. Peter's Basilica . </P> <P> There are two sculptures in the background . The one on the left is the god Apollo, god of light, archery and music, holding a lyre . The sculpture on the right is Athena, goddess of wisdom, in her Roman guise as Minerva . </P> <P> The main arch, above the characters, shows a meander (also known as a Greek fret or Greek key design), a design using continuous lines that repeat in a "series of rectangular bends" which originated on pottery of the Greek Geometric period and then become widely used in ancient Greek architectural friezes . </P>

Who do the chefs represent in this cartoon