Fragments of a terracotta calyx-krater (mixing bowl)
Obverse, Herakles and Busiris
Reverse, Dionysos and Ariadne
Dionysos was not only the god of wine, he was also intimately connected with ancient theater. The obverse depicts the popular subject of the Egyptian king Busiris who was preparing to sacrifice the Greek hero Herakles and was overcome instead. The representation probably reflects a satyr play. On the reverse, Dionysos reclines on a couch with Ariadne in an architectural interior that, like the obverse, indicates a stage setting.
Reverse, Dionysos and Ariadne
Dionysos was not only the god of wine, he was also intimately connected with ancient theater. The obverse depicts the popular subject of the Egyptian king Busiris who was preparing to sacrifice the Greek hero Herakles and was overcome instead. The representation probably reflects a satyr play. On the reverse, Dionysos reclines on a couch with Ariadne in an architectural interior that, like the obverse, indicates a stage setting.
Artwork Details
- Title: Fragments of a terracotta calyx-krater (mixing bowl)
- Artist: Very close in style to the work of the Dolon Painter
- Period: Late Classical
- Date: ca. 400–360 BCE
- Culture: Greek, South Italian, Lucanian
- Medium: Terracotta; red-figure
- Dimensions: Other (A-height): 4 1/16 in. × 5 1/4 in. (10.3 × 13.4 cm)
Other (B-height): 6 1/8 in. × 9 3/16 in. (15.5 × 23.3 cm)
Other (C-height): 8 1/16 in. × 6 5/8 in. (20.5 × 16.8 cm) - Classification: Vases
- Credit Line: Gift of Joseph V. Noble, 1958
- Object Number: 58.13.1a–c
- Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art
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Dolon Painter
ca. 380–360 BCE
Dolon Painter
ca. 400–375 BCE
Dolon Painter
ca. 400–360 BCE
Dolon Painter
ca. 400–390 BCE
Greek, South Italian, Apulian
3rd quarter of the 4th century BCE
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