Inventory number
GL I.1280
Artist
The Theseus Painter
Category
Vessel
Period
Archaic Period
Date
505-495 BC
Dimensions
Height: 0.213 m
Diameter: 0.302 m
Material
Clay
Location
First Floor Case 31, Νο 1
Fragmentarily preserved skyphos decorated in the black-figure technique. It was found in fragments in 1888 within the Persian fill on the Acropolis, was reassembled and restored. Shiny, black glaze covers the interior of the vase.
On the exterior, one side is decorated with a depiction of Theseus. He stands in front of the labyrinth which is rendered schematically with meanders, spirals and net pattern. Behind the hero, part of a pseudo-inscription is retained, while across from him is Athena holding a spear. She has a helmet on her head, aegis on her shoulders and a bracelet shaped like a snake on her right arm. Behind the goddess, three female figures may represent the youths (seven girls and seven boys) that the Athenians were obligated to send to Crete every nine years in order to feed the Minotaur. The exposed parts of the female body, as well as other decorative elements are rendered with white colour.
On the skyphos’ other side two of Theseus’ adventures are depicted: killing the Corinthian bandit Sciron and the extermination of Sinis the Pine Bender. Some scholars, however, identify the second man as the bandit Procrustes instead of Sinis.
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