Vase Catalog Number: Louvre G 2

Decoration:

On each side of the neck, a naked hetaira laces up her sandal. On one side, the woman is crouched over to reach her foot, while on the other side she sits on a small cushion and raises her foot to reach her hands. Each wears a sakkos and a wreath. On each handle a victorious athlete is depicted.

The two sides of the main panel are separated at each handle zone by large palmette designs. On each side a maenad is struggling with a silen. On one side both are on their feet, the maenad covered to her feet in a long chiton and mantle, with bracelets and earrings, the silen naked and ithyphallic. The silen holds a young tree as a staff and grasps the maenad's left arm in an attempt to push her down. On the second side, the maenad stands taller than the crouching silen, grabs his hair with her right hand and pushes, while he holds her arm. She wields a black snake in her left hand and points it toward her attacker as well. The silen is naked, with a wreath in his hair, while the maenad wears a chiton, mantle, leopardskin, and cap. The scenes are bordered above by a leaf pattern. Below, a band of rays projects up from the base.

The rim is covered with a palmette design.

Inscriptions:

The signature of the potter appears in the background of side B: PHAMPHIOS EPOISEN (Pamphaios made it).

Shape Description: Nikosthenic amphora

Sources Used: Simon & Hirmer 1976, p. 94, no. 91 left. (with previous bibliography)

(Deirdre Beyer-Honça)