Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
Young warrior cutting his hair with sword
There were several important ceremonies in which it was customary for boys and girls to sacrifice a lock of their hair, but this image of a young warrior cutting his hair before battle may reflect instead a scene in The Seven against Thebes, a tragedy by Aeschylus produced in Athens about 470 B.C. The seven heroes knew that only one of them would survive battle. Each cut a lock of his hair and tied it to the chariot that would carry home the survivor. This lekythos was probably made as a tomb gift. It may represent one of the seven heroes, or it may reflect the heroic death of an Athenian youth.
There were several important ceremonies in which it was customary for boys and girls to sacrifice a lock of their hair, but this image of a young warrior cutting his hair before battle may reflect instead a scene in The Seven against Thebes, a tragedy by Aeschylus produced in Athens about 470 B.C. The seven heroes knew that only one of them would survive battle. Each cut a lock of his hair and tied it to the chariot that would carry home the survivor. This lekythos was probably made as a tomb gift. It may represent one of the seven heroes, or it may reflect the heroic death of an Athenian youth.
Artwork Details
- Title: Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)
- Artist: Attributed to the Painter of the Yale Lekythos
- Period: Classical
- Date: ca. 470–460 BCE
- Culture: Greek, Attic
- Medium: Terracotta; red-figure, white-ground
- Dimensions: H. 5 1/2 in. (14 cm); diameter 2 5/8 in. (6.7 cm); H. as restored 6 7/8 in. (17.5 cm)
- Classification: Vases
- Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1907
- Object Number: 07.286.44
- Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art
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Painter of the Yale Lekythos
ca. 470 BCE
Amasis Painter
ca. 550–530 BCE
Amasis Painter
ca. 550–530 BCE
Achilles Painter
ca. 440 BCE
Eretria Painter
ca. 420 BCE
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