Vase Catalog Number: Philadelphia 31-19-2

Decoration:

Interior: cup-bearer. A nude youth carrying a kylix in one hand, has stepped up to a column krater to pour out wine or water from the trefoil oinochoe he carries in his other hand. He looks behind himself as he does so as if summoned by someone. His hair is bound by a taenia sprigged with vine leaves. The krater is garlanded with vines. A nonsense inscription runs along the inner edge of the tondo from the krater to the youth's left heel.

Side A: centaur battling with two hoplites. The centaur gallops to the right. He is wielding a small tree and reaches out dramatically with his left arm which is covered with the panther skin tied over his shoulders. The hoplite he is attacking has fallen wounded to one knee. He now turns his body to face his attacker, protecting himself with his shield and aiming his spear at the centaur's chest. Blood pours from his left shoulder. A companion hoplite is fleeing in the other direction, but turns awkwardly, stabbing the centaur in the buttocks with his spear. Both hoplites are naked but wear greaves and Chalcidian helmets with long crest-tails and nose guards. The device on the shield of the wounded warrior is a bull's head. The shield device of the fleeing warrior is a scorpion. The fleeing warrior also carries a sword at his waist. The centaur has a heavy face and coarse features. Although balding on top, he has long hair and a beard. He wears a fillet looped twice around his head.

Side B: fight between an archer and two hoplites. On the left, a nude archer has set an arrow in his bow and is drawing back on it, both arms straight. In the center is a fallen warrior, his left leg buckled under and his right extended. Although dying from the wound in his chest, he still holds his sword and shield. A second warrior on the right confronts the archer, lunging forward and leaning on the spear he appears to have planted between the thighs of his companion. He also carries a shield and wears a sheathed sword hanging from a double baldric at his waist. His round shield is fitted with a fringed apron. Both hoplites wear greaves and Corinthian helmets. The fallen warrior sports a baldric and scabbard. The shield device on both their shields is a snake. The archer is naked but wears leather boots, a gorytos suspended from a leather strap, and a Scythian cap made of leather. His bow is also Scythian.

Inscriptions:

Nonsense inscriptions on both sides and in the tondo.

Collection History:

The kylix originally belonged in the collection of Henry C. Lea. His son, Arthur H. Lea, gave it to the University Museum, Philadelphia, in 1931.

Condition:

There is some chipping of the surface, especially along the mends.

Shape Description:

Type B kylix.

Sources Used:

CVA, Univ. Mus. 3.

Other Bibliography:

Dohan 1931b, 23 and 26, pl. 11; Dohan 1932-33b, 33-44, figs. 10-13, 16 and 18; Van Ingen 1935, 159-160; ARV2, 264, 21; Richter 1946b, 87; Beazley 1966, 53-60, pls. 13-14; Knauer 1987, 3 n. 6 and 8, 10, 23 n. 60, and n. 116

(Kathleen Krattenmaker)