Black-Figure Lekythos
Black-Figure Lekythos
The lekythos is the archetypal funerary oil vase in Attic pottery. This example is decorated in the so-called black-figure technique; many details, now partially faded, were highlighted in purple or white paint.
5th century B.C.
H: 19.4 cm
Out of stock
Product Description
The lekythos is the archetypal funerary oil vase in Attic pottery. This example is decorated in the so-called black-figure technique; many details, now partially faded, were highlighted in purple or white paint. Some incisions (made with a point before the firing process) indicate details of the anatomy and of the clothing.
The figural scene almost covers the entire body of the lekythos: the mythological episode represented is well-attested in contemporary Attic ceramics, since it depicts the struggle between Apollo and his half-brother, Herakles, for the Delphic Tripod, that is for the possession of the most important oracle in the Greek world. Seeing his two sons fighting, Zeus took up one of his thunderbolts and hurled it between the brothers to separate them. After the two siblings were pried apart, Apollo stayed the master of the sanctuary and Herakles got his oracle, instructing him on the ways to atone for his crimes.
All four painted figures seem to move briskly toward the right: from the left, one sees a) Artemis, dressed in a long chiton and a cloak, holding a long spear in her right hand, while she raises her left arm as if trying to protect her brother; b) Apollo carrying the Tripod in his right hand, while protecting his left side from Herakles club; his hair is short and he wears a simple himation placed on the shoulder; c) Herakles, covered with his lion’s skin, trying to run away with the Tripod he has just stolen; he turns to Apollo brandishing his club to hit him; d) Athena (helmet, spear, peplos and himation) is the counterpart of Artemis and protects Herakles.
The style and quality of this lekythos, characterized by a somewhat hasty drawing and by details incised in a nearly impressionist manner, equal that of most other contemporary funerary oil vessels: the success of lekythoi was such that potters and painters did not have any choice other than to implement high levels of standardization and lower precision to keep up with demand.
