The Amphora
The black-figure Amphora depicting Achilles and Penthesilea is one of about 40 known vases attributed to the ancient Greek potter Exekias. It was made and painted between the years of 540BC-530BC in the city of Attica in Greece and was found in the Italian town of Vulci. On the other side of the amphora, the is a depiction of Dionysos and his son Oinopion. The pictures on the vase were achieved through a process of painting and incising the desired patterns on and/into the vase.
Exekias was active in the middle of the 6th century BC, meaning his works came from the Archaic Period of ancient Greece. In this time people came together and started living in city states, and started sharing stories, temples, and culture with one another. It is in this time that we see and uptake of literature, sciences and even art after a relatively quiet period called the Greek Dark Ages.
The Mythology
Achilles was a hero of Greece in the Trojan War and was protected by the gods so that no harm could come to him in battle, except for his heal. Penthesilea was the leader of the Amazons and fought against him in the battle of Troy. Her spear bounces of his armour, as he is protected, but his hits, and kills her.
The God of Wine Dionysos had a son named Oinopion, and he handed him a kantharos of wine. Symbolizing Dionysos' teaching the of the art of wine making to his son.
Sources
Information
- Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia, Date Accessed: 8th May 2024. Exekias. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Exekias
- History, History.com Editors. Date Accessed: 8th May 2024. Ancient Greece. A&E Television Networks. https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-greece/ancient-greece
Images
- Img 1: Exekias (ca. 540-530BCE), Achilles standing over Penthesilea, killing her with his spear. https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/G_1836-0224-127 © The Trustees of the British Museum. Licensed under CC BY-NC-SA
- Img 2: Exekias (ca. 540-530BCE), Dionysos handing his son Oinopion a cantharos. https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/G_1836-0224-127 © The Trustees of the British Museum. Licensed under CC BY-NC-SA