Vase Catalog Number: RISD 25.083

Decoration:

Side A: Triptolemos, in chair holding wheat with two women (Kore and Demeter?). Triptolemos in his chariot is facing right. He wears a long chiton and a himation decorated with red and white spots, the upper part of which is red. He wears a red garland or fillet and a red beard. In his right hand he holds a long winged scepter; in his left, four spears of wheat. The back of the seat ends in the head of a bird. Behind him facing right is Persephone, her flesh rendered in white. She wears a long chiton decorated with white spots and a black himation with white spots, lined with red. She wears her hair in a long mass down along the nape of her neck, bound with a red fillet or garland. She gesticulates with her hands, her left hand to her mouth and her right hand down. On the right, facing Triptolemos, is Demeter, crowned, looking left. Her flesh is white, her garments and gesticulating arms similar to those of Persephone.

Side B: Theseus and the Minotaur. Theseus, facing right, thrusts his sword into the neck of the Minotaur. He wears a short chiton decorated with red and white spots and a spiral band above the selvage. From a red belt around his waist hangs his scabbard. With his left hand he grasps the left arm of the Minotaur, who has been forced down on one knee. The back of the Minotaur's neck is decorated with red stripes and his nipples are in red. He grasps a white object in his right hand. On the right facing left is Ariadne, draped in a red-spotted chiton with an incised spiral border and a white-spotted himation lined with red. Her flesh is in white, her black hair bound with a red fillet. In her right hand she holds the wreath of light. Behind Theseus, at left facing right, is the hero's companion, nude and beardless, holding a garland in his left hand.

The lip, handles, and base are black. On the neck there is an incised double palmette-lotus chain. Beneath this there is an alternating red and black tongue pattern on the shoulder at the junction between shoulder and neck. Below the handles there are palmettes and small lotuses springing from tendrils. Below the design panel between alternating reserved and black glaze lines, there is a band of lotus buds. Below this at the junction of the lower body and base there are rays on the lower body.

Collection History:

Formerly in the collection of E.P. Warren, who bought it from a Greek in London. Purchased, 1925.

Shape Description:

Small amphora; triple ribbed handles, "red-bodied" type.

Sources Used:

CVA, USA 2, RISD 1 p.1, Pl.10: 1 a-c.

Other Bibliography:

Banks RISD Bulletin XVI (1928) p.49

(Susan H. Allen)