Vases Black-figure Alabastron Alabastron (oil flask): Working Wool, Dionysos wit...
Alabastron (oil flask): Working Wool, Dionysos with Satyr and Maenad (upper); Gigantomachy (lower)
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Alabastron (oil flask): Working Wool, Dionysos with Satyr and Maenad (upper); Gigantomachy (lower)

Black-figure the Haimon Group · Alabastron · c. 480 BCE
White-ground alabastron decorated in the black-figure technique. Two figure zones, both on a white slip, and two ornamental bands on red. The bottom of the

The upper figural zone depicts a scene of woolworking: The woman on the left sits on a short stool and faces a basket. She holds a distaff. Flanking the basket is a second seated woman spinning thread. To the right of the standing female is a bearded Dionysos facing right towards a short stool. He wears a long himation and wreath and holds a kantharos in his left hand and Opposite the god is a maenad, who flees to the right and holds a thyrsos. Behind the maenad, a dancing satyr lunges forward and grasps a thyrsus in his left hand. A series of twisted branches occupy the background on both sides. In the lower figural frieze is a gigantomachy--the mythological battle between the gods and giants. Herakles and the goddess Athena battle five giants, represented with hoplite shields and helmets.

A broad band of checkerboard tops the upper figural frieze, and a band of repeating palmettes divides the two figural zones.
Shape
Technique
Period
Archaic period
Date
c. 480 BCE
Culture
Greek
Museum
Harvard Art Museums
Accession Number
1920.44.54
Image Source
harvard
Images courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (CC0)