Description
Dyonysos Cup Dyonysos Cup Kylix showing the Voyage of Dionysos. Made ca. 535 B.C. This kylix of Dionysus Crossing the Sea was painted by the famous 6th century artist Exekias, and the original is found in the Staatliche Antikensammlung, Munich. This drinking-cup is sometimes called the “symposium-vase,” since it appears often in vase-representations of symposia A footed vessel with two handles and a wide bowl suitable for airing wine. KYLIX: A fine gift for the Greek who has everything would be a kylix, or an elegant, highly decorated drinking cup. This vase might have been decorated either on the exterior, or/and also in the circular inside area. The cup tells the story of Dionysus, who after his capture by pirates, terrified them by flooding his ship with wine, causing a great vine to sprout from the mast, and creating illusions of wild beasts. The pirates were so frightened, they jumped from the ship. They were instantly transformed into dolphins, shown leaping about on the rim of the cup. The kylix or shallow wine cup was a table-top piece used at all meals. Many were highly decorated to adorn banquet tables and spoke of the good taste of the host. This kylix of Dionysus Crossing the Sea was painted by the famous 6th century artist, Exekias, and the original is found in the Museum Antiker Kleinkunst, in Munich. Ancient Greeks painted eyes on the front of their boats for good luck. They believed that a protecting god could see ahead through the eyes. Exekias (???????) was an ancient Greek vase-painter and potter, who worked between approximately 550 BC – 525 BC at Athens. Most of his vases, however, were exported to other regions of the Mediterranean, such as Etruria, while some of his other works remained in Athens. Exekias worked mainly with a technique called black-figure. This technique involves figures and ornaments painted in black silhouette (using clay slip)with details added by linear incisions and the occasional use of red and white paint before firing. Exekias is considered the most original and most detail-orientated painter and potter using the black-figure technique. The vase-painter Andokides is considered to be a student of his.