Vase Catalog Number: Munich 2416 (inv. no. Munich J 753)

Decoration:

Under rim, diagonal symmetric palmettes, egg-and-dart.

Side A: Sappho and Alcaeus each hold a barbiton and plectrum (attached to their arms by bands). Alcaeus, standing to the left in a pensive attitude, inclines his head downwards, but is singing, as the small "O"s issuing from his mouth show. He is barefoot, and wears a long, transparent chiton, a small mantle and a fillet around his head, and is barefoot. Sappho turns to listen to him, showing her face in a somewhat awkward three-quarter view, and prepares to answer his song with hers. She too wears a long transparent chiton but has a long, heavy mantle. The scene might refer to a competition between the two poets at a festival of Dionysos (who is depicted on the reverse of the vase).

Side B: Dionysos and maenad. Dionysos standing at left offers maenad a kantharos.

Shape Description:

Kalathoid with spout

Sources Used:

Simon & Hirmer 1976, 113-14

(Beth McIntosh)