Mississippi 1977.3.96

Mississippi 1977.3.96 (Vase)

Side A: komos. Side B: komos.

ID:: aa_5069
Beazley Number:: 213397
Type:: Vase
Date:: ca. -450 — ca. -440
Period:: Classical
Context:: From Vulci
Region:: Etruria
Painter:: Attributed to Polygnotos
Condition:: Excellent condition; ancient repair of one handle with iron rivets. Slight surface wear.
Dimensions:: H 0. 43 m.; D 0.34 m.
Ware:: Attic Red Figure
Shape:: Stamnos

Decoration Description

Around the outside of the handles is an egg-and-dart pattern. Above and below at the sides of the handles are addorsed palmettes and spirals. Bordering the scene at the bottom is a cross and meander pattern, and at the top (near the neck) is a tongue pattern. The rim has an egg-and-dart pattern on it, as well. Robinson compared the shape of the vessel, and the decoration around the handles, to a signed stamnos by Polygnotos London 96.7-16.5, and further said "There can be no doubt that we must assign this very beautiful vase to Polygnotos himself" (19).

Side A: On the left is a tall bearded man, in profile to the right. He wears a fillet and a himation, and walks forward, supported by a flute girl. Near him is the inscription *D*E*M*O*N*I*K*O*S ("Demonikos"). The flute girl wears a broad fillet decorated with a row of angles and dots, and an Ionic chiton with an overfold. She plays the flute (puffing out her cheeks) while leaning back into the man's arms and lifting her left foot, toes pointed, off of the ground. Near her is the inscription *K*L*E*O*P*A*T*R*A ("Cleopatra"). Before her is a youth, nude except for a cloak hanging from his left shoulder and fillet, dancing to the right. He raises his right hand beyond the perimeter of the tongue decoration, and with the other hand balances a large column krater with ivy decoration on his left knee. Near him is the inscription *E*U*Q*I*P*P*O*S ("Euthippos"). The bearded man on the right is in profile to the left. He wears a cloak flung over his shoulders and a fillet. He strides to the left, holding his staff over his head with his left hand, and a barbiton over his back with the other hand. Robinson stated that this was a dance gesture, and that he was probably beating the time, and not the dancer before him (20). Near him is the inscription *K*A*L*L*I*M*A*X*O*S ("Callimachos").

Side B: Three draped youths stand together. The one on the left faces to the right, holding a skyphos in his left hand. His other hand is hidden under his himation. The middle youth, with himation wrapped around his waist and draped over his left arm, also faces right. He gestures with his right hand, and carries a torch of twigs in his left. Facing him on the right is the third youth, who looks back at him as he walks to the right. He raises his right hand to the center figure.

Graffiti

Robinson: traces of signature (19). Side A, near the appropriate figures: *D*E*M*O*N*I*K*O*S ("Demonikos"); *K*L*E*O*P*A*T*R*A ("Cleopatra"); *E*U*Q*I*P*P*O*S ("Euthippos"); *K*A*L*L*I*M*A*X*O*S ("Callimachos").

Notes

Robinson compared the shape of the vessel, and the decoration around the handles, to a signed stamnos by Polygnotos (London 96.7-16.5).

Collection:: University Museums, University of Mississippi; Gift of Helen Tudor Robinson, 1959. Formerly in the D.M. Robinson collection, Harvard inv. 204.