Terracotta column-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)

Attributed to the Agrigento Painter
ca. 470–460 BCE
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 156
Obverse, Herakles slaying the Egyptian king Busiris
Reverse, the king's priests and attendants in flight

One of the numerous adventures of Herakles took place in Egypt where he encountered Busiris, a king who had been advised to sacrifice all strangers to Zeus in order to avoid drought. Herakles prevailed over Busiris and killed him and all his henchmen.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Terracotta column-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)
  • Artist: Attributed to the Agrigento Painter
  • Period: Classical
  • Date: ca. 470–460 BCE
  • Culture: Greek, Attic
  • Medium: Terracotta; red-figure
  • Dimensions: H. 17 9/16 in. (44.6 cm); diameter 14 3/4 in. (37.5 cm)
  • Classification: Vases
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1915
  • Object Number: 15.27
  • Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

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