VesselsGreek6th century BCE

Attic Black-figure Lekythos: Warrior's Departure

c. 520 BCE

Description

Depicts departure of a warrior and harnessing of horses. On body, warrior's departure. On the left a warrior to right looking backwards and wearing a Corinthian helmet, cuirass, greaves, and cloak, holding a shield and two spears. Before him to right a chariot, with charioteer and two horses, to which a third horse is being harnessed by a nude bearded man, while a second, clad in a white tunic, stands beside the horses. Facing them a warrior and an archer, the former wearing a Corinthian helmet, cloak and greaves, holding a shiled (device two dolphins) and two spears points downwards. The archer, who is almost entirely concealed by the warrior, wears a Phrygian cap and holds a bow and arrows. Behind them an old man wrapped in a mantle, holding a spear. Above the design one purple stripe and two below. Added purple on the cloaks, greaves, shield rim, hair, beards, horses' manes and harness; added white on the crests of the helmets, shield device, man's tunic, and old man's hair. Fine careful incisions and execution good. The horses are especially well done. On neck, rays pointing upwards with rosette below. On shoulder, palmette cable. Mouth and base covered with a poor black glaze, badly worn.Foot restored in plaster.

Classification

Vessels

Technique

Wheel-made

Medium

Terracotta; fine reddish yellow clay with pale red slip

Culture

Greek

Period

Archaic period

Century

6th century BCE