Images of Pottery

From the Museum's Ancient Greek World Collection

Boeotian Hydria
Sub-Mycenaean period
On loan, Philadelphia Museum of Art
L-64-146
The region of Boeotia in central Greece was important in Mycenaean times, but a complete picture of the region in the succeeding period is lacking. As in most of Greece in the early Iron Age, distinctive regional styles of pottery arose and developed at varying rates.
H. 17.0; W. 16.5; Dia. 13.5 cm. UM neg. S4-122130. (large version)

Attic Horse Pyxis
Late Geometric Ia period (ca. 750 b.c.)
30-41-1
In Attica around the middle of the 8th century b.c. the practice of cremating the dead was almost exclusively replaced by inhumation. Large toilet boxes such as this are found in Late Geometric period graves of women, for the most part, and probably indicate the high status of the individual. The horses on the lid are typical of the more elaborate of these vessels, and the linear patterns, especially the meander, are hallmarks of the decorative schemes of this period.
H. 24.0; Dia. 32.0 cm. Photo by Maria Daniels for the Perseus Project. (large version)

Early Corinthian Alabastron
ca. 620-590 b.c.
By the Scale Painter Vulci, Chamber Tomb 5
MS 553
The powerful city of Corinth was the innovator in pottery decoration and dominated pottery exportation in the 7th and early 6th centuries b.c. This vessel comes from an Etruscan site in central Italy, a region where Greek commercial contacts and influence were strong. The decorative motifs include exotic animals, "oriental" creatures such as the sphinx, and filler ornaments such as rosettes.
H. 35.0; Dia. 17.0 cm. Photo by Maria Daniels for the Perseus Project. (large version)

Apulian Gnathian Squat Lekythos
ca. 340-330 b.c.
On loan, Philadelphia Museum of Art
L-64-19
Gnathian-style pottery appeared around the middle of the 4th century b.c. in the southern Italian region of Apulia. It takes its name from the site of Egnazia where the style may have originated, although various centers must have produced this type of pottery. The style is characterized by black-glazed surfaces with polychrome decoration in red, white and yellow comprising mostly floral and bird motifs. A similar style, called West Slope, appeared in Athens around the end of the 4th century b.c.
H. 19.9; Dia. 7.0 cm. Photo by Maria Daniels for the Perseus Project. (large version)

Attic Red Figure Stamnos ca. 490 b.c.
By the Kleophrades Painter
On loan, Philadelphia Museum of Art
L-64-185
Heracles fighting the Nemean Lion. After ruining all his weapons on the lion's impervious hide, Heracles must choke the monster to death. Afterwards he wears its skull as a helmet and its skin for a cloak.
H. 33.5; L. 40.0; Dia. 30.0 cm. Photo courtesy Public Information Office, Univ. of Pennsylvania Museum. (large version)

Attic Red Figure Kylix ca. 480 b.c.
By the Foundry Painter and the potter Brygos
Probably from Vulci, Italy
MS 2445
The interior shows music and revelry. When the cup is rotated so that the shoulder drapery folds are vertical, the youth tilts drunkenly backwards. On the exterior, six party-goers sing and dance.
H. 9.3; L. 30.8; Dia. 23.6 cm. Photos by Maria Daniels for the Perseus Project. (large version)

Terracotta Figurine
Early 3rd century b.c.
MS 5679
Standing clothed female figure of possibly Corinthian manufacture, wearing a himation over a floor-length chiton. The himation was a rectangle of wool or linen, often drawn away from one shoulder. The figure's earrings are well preserved. Traces of white slip cover most of the figure, and rusty red survives in the hair.
H. 20.7; W. 7.6; Th. 5.0 cm. Photo courtesy Public Information Office, Univ. of Pennsylvania Museum. (large version)

Italic Low-Footed Red Figure Bowl with High Handles 4th century b.c.
On loan, Philadelphia Museum of Art
L-64-23 detail
The most common toilet article appearing on vases is the mirror, usually made of polished silver or bronze. These and a wide variety of cosmetic implements are often excavated in tombs, sanctuaries dedicated to female divinities, and in the domestic quarters of ancient towns.
Photo courtesy Mediterranean Section, Univ. of Pennsylvania Museum. (large version)

Campanian Red Figure Bell Krater Late 5th century b.c.
By the Cassandra Painter or his circle
MS 5687 detail
A somewhat unorthodox hunting scene, perhaps depicting a legendary event in which a young man slays a boar with his ax.
Photo courtesy Mediterranean Section, Univ. of Pennsylvania Museum. (large version)

Attic Black Figure Amphora ca. 530-525 b.c.
In the manner of the Lysippides Painter
MS 5467
Both sides portray scenes of mythological battle, which symbolize the Greek preoccupation with struggle as well as their love for detailed battle narrations. Such scenes are a hallmark of Archaic art. Here, Heracles (at the left) fights with two Amazons, a race of female warriors thought to live on the fringes of the civilized world.
H. 41.0; Dia. 28.0 cm. Photo by Maria Daniels for the Perseus Project. (large version)

Attic Geometric Amphora ca. 720-700 b.c.

Attic Geometric Amphora Late Geometric IIb (ca. 720-700 b.c.)
30-33-133
The upper two panels depict lines of armed soldiers three abreast, while the lowest register shows a procession of chariots and armed soldiers.
H. 52.0; Dia. 25.0 cm. Photo by Maria Daniels for the Perseus Project. (large version)

Attic Red Figure Pyxis ca. 400-390 b.c.
By the Meleager Painter
MS 5462
Heracles and Hebe's wedding in the presence of the gods on Mt. Olympus. The lid of the pyxis shows Heracles leading Hebe to his house, while an Eros or Cupid figure carries a marriage torch in front of the wedded couple. Hebe is dressed in a white and gold chiton and himation and wears a wedding veil which another Eros adjusts. A goddess lights the scene with a pair of torches. Athena and Zeus sit enthroned, while Hera leans intimately against Zeus's shoulder. A third Eros reclines against Zeus's throne next to a high-stemmed censer for burning incense. Behind the Eros is a low, footed chest, probably a wedding gift. Two women carry a jewel box for the bride and a vessel containing water for her bridal bath.
H. 9.0; Dia. 21.8 cm. Photo courtesy Public Information Office, Univ. of Pennsylvania Museum. (large version)

Apulian Red Figure Krater 4th century b.c.
On loan, Philadelphia Museum of Art
L-64-42 detail
Scene of sacrifice, perhaps from a play. A grotesque bearded man, perhaps a slave, wearing a short chiton, high sandals and pointed straw hat, stands in front of an altar. He holds a libation pitcher and large knife. A second comic or bearded, mustachioed male, wearing a tall felt hat and short chiton, holds a sheep over an altar. A woman holds out a ritual winnowing basket, used in the rites of Demeter and Dionysus.
Photo courtesy Mediterranean Section, Univ. of Pennsylvania Museum. (large version)

Middle Corinthian Lidded Convex Pyxis ca. 595-570 b.c.
By the Geladakis Painter
MS 5482
Men used aryballoi mainly to carry olive oil for cleaning their bodies after exercise. They could be hung from the wrist by a thong. The pyxis, perhaps originally made of either wood or woven rushes, was used to hold either women's cosmetics or jewelry.
H. 12.0; Dia. 16.5 cm. Photo by Maria Daniels for the Perseus Project. (large version)

Attic Bilingual Eye-Kylix ca. 520-510 b.c.
Group of Leipzig T 3599 and the potter Hischylos
31-19-1
This transition piece uses the older Black Figure technique for the interior scene depicting a standing warrior, while the newly introduced Red Figure style is employed for the exterior.
H. 12.3; L. 40.0; Dia. 30.6 cm. Photos by Maria Daniels for the Perseus Project. (large version)

Attic White Ground Lekythos Late 5th century b.c.
Attica
MS 4082
A girl seated on a chair with a wreath in her hands; her wool basket is set to the right. The undulating snake, which appears above, is traditionally associated with the dead from the Geometric period on.
H. 13.4; Dia. 5.0 cm. Photo by Maria Daniels for the Perseus Project. (large version)

Alexandrian Hadra Cremation Hydria 3rd century b.c.
61-28-1
This type of vessel was made specifically to hold the ashes of the cremated dead in the rock-cut chamber tombs and other types of burials associated with Hellenistic Alexandria. While a few examples have been recovered from Greece and south Russia, most come from Egypt.
H. 34.8; L. 29.0; Dia. 22.5 cm. UM neg. S4-97436-7. (large version)

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