Terracotta calyx-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)
Above, obverse, Odysseus pursuing Circe; reverse, women and king
Below, obverse, man between women; reverse, youth and women
The primary and most interesting scene on this two-row krater shows Odysseus pursuing the enchantress Circe. In the air between them are Circe's magic wand and the skyphos (deep drinking cup) that contains the potion with which she transforms men into animals. Behind Odysseus, two of his men with features of a boar and a horse or mule gesticulate toward him. The pursuit may also be mythological.
Below, obverse, man between women; reverse, youth and women
The primary and most interesting scene on this two-row krater shows Odysseus pursuing the enchantress Circe. In the air between them are Circe's magic wand and the skyphos (deep drinking cup) that contains the potion with which she transforms men into animals. Behind Odysseus, two of his men with features of a boar and a horse or mule gesticulate toward him. The pursuit may also be mythological.
Artwork Details
- Title: Terracotta calyx-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)
- Artist: Attributed to the Persephone Painter
- Period: Classical
- Date: ca. 440 BCE
- Culture: Greek, Attic
- Medium: Terracotta; red-figure
- Dimensions: Overall: 14 1/4 x 14in. (36.2 x 35.5cm)
- Classification: Vases
- Credit Line: Gift of Amelia E. White, 1941
- Object Number: 41.83
- Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Greek, South Italian, Apulian, Gnathian
ca. 350–300 BCE
Persephone Painter
ca. 440 BCE
Persephone Painter
ca. 440 BCE
Dolon Painter
ca. 400–390 BCE
Greek, South Italian, Apulian
3rd quarter of the 4th century BCE
Related Content
Publications
Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.
Free to download
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.