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99/117/1 Kylix, red-figure style, glazed terracotta, attributed to the Antiphon Painter, Athens, Greece, c. 490-480 BCE. Click to enlarge.
  • Image 1 of 4, 99/117/1 Kylix, red-figure style, glazed terracotta, attributed to the Antiphon Painter, Athens, Greece, c. 490-480 BCE. Click to enlarge
  • Image 2 of 4, 99/117/1 Kylix, red-figure style, glazed terracotta, attributed to the Antiphon Painter, Athens, Greece, c. 490-480 BCE. Click to enlarge
  • Image 3 of 4, 99/117/1 Kylix, red-figure style, glazed terracotta, attributed to the Antiphon Painter, Athens, Greece, c. 490-480 BCE. Click to enlarge
  • Image 4 of 4, 99/117/1 Kylix, red-figure style, glazed terracotta, attributed to the Antiphon Painter, Athens, Greece, c. 490-480 BCE. Click to enlarge

Greek kylix attributed to the Antiphon Painter

The examples of ancient Greek pottery that have survived are often seen by historians 'as windows to the past'. The everyday scenes seen, and the stories and myths heard by the potters and painters, were the inspiration for their designs. The importance of athletics in ancient Greek life meant that such scenes were also included in the repertoire of designs that grace pottery - in fact they were favoured since athletes were considered the ultimate examples of beauty.

All the painted scenes on …

Summary

Object No.

99/117/1

Object Statement

Kylix, red-figure style, glazed terracotta, attributed to the Antiphon Painter, Athens, Greece, c. 490-480 BCE

Physical Description

High footed cup (kylix) with wide mouth and low everted rim; a horizontal loop handle at each side, the cup is decorated in the red-figure style with details left in the reserve colour of the earthenware: the painted scenes all relate in various degrees to a sporting theme.

On the inside of the cup is featured a youth at a drinking party (symposium) wearing a victor's garland around his head. He is playing a popular game called kottabos which involved catapulting the remains of the wine into a bronze vessel across the room, whilst at the same time uttering the name of a loved one. On this vase the name seen coming from his mouth is Laches, and above his head is the reference "Ho pais kalos (the youth is beautiful)" as to how attractive is the desired Laches.

Side A of the cup depicts three figures, one a nude youth holding a discus, and another warming up with jumping weights in preparation for the long jump. The stone weights called halteres were used to give momentum and lengthen the jump (they were discarded at the point of take-off), facing them a trainer rests on his staff. The inscription above reads, "Laches kalos (Laches is beautiful)".

Side B also shows three figures; two nude youths, one holding weights, flank a trainer or judge who appears to be settling a dispute between them. Inscription above reads "Ho pais kalos (the youth is beautiful)".

Marks

Inscriptions in interior and exterior of cup, inscribed in clay, interior of cup, name coming from the mouth of the youth, "Laches", above his head in ancient Greek, "Ho pais kalos" (the youth is beautiful); Side a, inscription above scene in ancient Greek, "Lakes kalos" (Lakes is beautiful), Side B, inscription above scene in ancient Greek, "Ho pais kalos" (the youth is beautiful).

Short URL

https://ma.as/166498

Dimensions

Height

100 mm

Width

302 mm

Source

Credit Line

Purchased 1999

Acquisition Date

19 October 1999

Cite this Object

Harvard

Greek kylix attributed to the Antiphon Painter 2023, Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, accessed 27 March 2023, <https://ma.as/166498>

Wikipedia

{{cite web |url=https://ma.as/166498 |title=Greek kylix attributed to the Antiphon Painter |author=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences |access-date=27 March 2023 |publisher=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, Australia}}

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