Vase Catalog Number: Philadelphia MS4873

Decoration:

Side A: warrior and grazing horse. The bearded warrior stands on the right, in profile to the left. He is partially hidden behind his shield, which is decorated at center with a large, black bird. He holds a spear in his left hand and a javelin in his right, and wears a garment mostly obscured by his shield, but decorated with rosettes, swastikas and red dots, and a helmet with a ram's head cheekpiece. The horse stands on delicate legs to the warrior's left, head down toward the center. His mane is incised.

Side B: archer and grazing horse. An archer and his horse stand facing one another. The archer stands in profile on the right while the horse grazes on the left. The archer is dressed in Scythian clothing--a pointed cap and a tight garment which covers him from neck to ankle. The garment is decorated with stripes, zig-zags, meanders, swastikas, stars, circles and rosettes. The archer has a pointed beard and is barefoot. His quiver hangs at his side, and he holds the horse's reins in one hand. The horse is poorly preserved. It stands facing right with head down as if grazing.

Collection History:

The vase fragments were excavated by A.L. Frothingham under the auspices of the American Exploration Society in 1897, and subsequently became part of the collection of the University Museum, Philadelphia.

Condition:

The preserved pieces are in good condition, showing some loss of the added white paint. The horse on side A is scratched.

Shape Description:

Type A amphora.

Other Bibliography:

Hall 1913, 158-159; Beazley 1931-32, 2; Dohan 1933, 60, 66, 68; Technau 1936, 21 no. 6; Moore 1968, 358 no. 12; Korres 1970, pl. 13a; Robertson 1975, 132, pl. 36b and c; Bianchi 1976, 289; Boardman 1980a, fig. 297; Moon 1983, 128, fig. 9.3; Beazley 1986, pl. 69, 3-4; Beazley Addenda 2, 40.

(Kathleen Krattenmaker)