Terracotta vase in the form of an astragal (knucklebone)
Eros
Astragals were popular toys in antiquity. As each side of an astragal is distinctive, what mattered in a game was how the pieces fell. Such games of chance also acquired prophetic or erotic aspects. The poet Anacreon wrote about the astragals of Eros—the dice of Love. It is entirely appropriate that this large example is decorated with a lyre-playing Eros.
Astragals were popular toys in antiquity. As each side of an astragal is distinctive, what mattered in a game was how the pieces fell. Such games of chance also acquired prophetic or erotic aspects. The poet Anacreon wrote about the astragals of Eros—the dice of Love. It is entirely appropriate that this large example is decorated with a lyre-playing Eros.
Artwork Details
- Title: Terracotta vase in the form of an astragal (knucklebone)
- Artist: Attributed to an artist recalling the Painter of London D 12
- Period: Classical
- Date: ca. 460 BCE
- Culture: Greek, Attic
- Medium: Terracotta; red-figure
- Dimensions: H. 3 15/16 in. (10 cm); length 6 7/8 in. (17.4 cm); H. with handle 4 15/16 in. (12.6 cm)
- Classification: Vases
- Credit Line: Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1940
- Object Number: 40.11.22
- Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art
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Painter of London D 12
ca. 460 BCE
Painter of London D 12
460–450 BCE
Painter of London D 12
second quarter of the 5th century BCE
Painter of London D 12
second quarter of the 5th century BCE
Painter of London D 12
second quarter of the 5th century BCE
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