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Amphora (Storage Jar)

A work made of terracotta, black-figure on white-ground.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

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  • A work made of terracotta, black-figure on white-ground.

Date:

530-520 BCE

Artist:

Close to the style of the Antimenes Painter
Greek; Athens

About this artwork

This large vessel was used for storing and mixing wine, and was likely used as part of the Greek symposium. Much like modern academic symposiums, in which people discuss a topic of common interest, debunking old theories and putting forth new hypotheses; the men of ancient Athens regularly got together in private homes to exchange ideas. Afterward the participants might continue the conversation, discussing their impressions in greater detail or simply socializing over a drink. As the evening progressed, participants engaged in other pleasures, including games, performances, and sex. Wine played a major role in fueling these evenings, and as such the myriad vessels used in the symposium often paid homage to drink. Here, the face or mask of a satyr, one of the followers of the wine god Dionysos, is depicted with grapevines seemingly growing from his head.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Arts of the Ancient Mediterranean and Byzantium

Culture

Ancient Greek

Title

Amphora (Storage Jar)

Place

Athens (Object made in)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

530 BCE–520 BCE

Medium

terracotta, black-figure on white-ground

Dimensions

39.4 × 27.7 cm (15 1/8 × 10 7/8 in.); Diam.: 27.7 cm (10 7/8 in.)

Credit Line

Costa A. Pandaleon Endowment

Reference Number

1980.75

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.

https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/59815/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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