Terracotta pelike (jar)
Attributed to the Argos Painter
Obverse, woman with mirror and wool basket
Reverse, youth
A major task of Athenian women was to weave. The wool basket at this lady's feet, her garments that are given prominence by her pose, as well as the mirror in which she is admiring herself suggest her proficiency. Weaving the peplos that was dedicated to Athena every four years was a major enterprise. We may imagine that a woman such as the one on the pelike was involved.
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