Attic Black-Figure Volute Krater
Body black, with two friezes on the neck. Side A, upper, shows the battle between the gods and the giants; side A, lower, a series of athletic scenes. Side B, upper, a chain of horizontal palmettes; side B, lower, the departure of warriors.
Side A, upper: Gigantomachy. From left: seated male figure with staff; Hermes; female goddess; male god; Athena driving quadriga, in front of which runs Herakles (lion skin, Boeotian-type shield). A semi-nude figure (Zeus?) moves to the right, looking back, before an attacking Giant, who runs behind a quadriga (male driver). Both quadrigae ride over rocks (painted white with black spots). To right, a female and male figure advance leftwards, with a third figure (male, bearded) moving to the right but looking back.
Side A, lower: athletes. From left: two trainers (with staffs) flank a hoplitodromos, with his helmet pushed back off his head, bending forward to pick up his profile shield (decoration, balls). A second hoplitodromos stands facing left, with his shield already mounted (blazon, triskeles) and holding his helmet by the cheekpiece. Long jumper running to right with weights. To the right of a plant is a discus-thrower, shown in mid-throw. At the centre of the scene, a pipes-player, before whom stands a javelin-thrower. Another plant separates him from a pair of wrestlers in combat, overseen by a trainer. Further right, two pankratiasts, both already bleeding, are supervised by another trainer. A nude male with a wreath (?) stands watching at the far left, in front of a white-painted post.
Side B, upper: series of encircled palmettes pointing to the right.
Side B, lower: departure. From left, Scythian-attired figure looking back to right with arm outstretched, towards a man with two spears and wearing a petasos and greaves, who accompanies a horse. In front of him, a female figure watches a warrior (blazon, bull head) who looks back at her. At the center of the scene, two quadrigae. The charioteer on the left (white cloak, Boeotian-type shield) has already mounted, but the other (petasos, bearded, Boeotian-type shield) is shown stepping into his chariot. Both charioteers are confronted by a single female figure. A dog stands by the horses on the left. Before the team on the right, a warrior (blazon: triskeles) stands facing left. Behind him, a woman before a man (petasos, two spears, facing right) accompanying a horse.
The rim is decorated with a simple meander, the bottom of the belly with ascending rays, and the sides of the handles with addorsed ivy leaf chains. A graffito exists on the underside of the foot.
Side A, upper: Gigantomachy. From left: seated male figure with staff; Hermes; female goddess; male god; Athena driving quadriga, in front of which runs Herakles (lion skin, Boeotian-type shield). A semi-nude figure (Zeus?) moves to the right, looking back, before an attacking Giant, who runs behind a quadriga (male driver). Both quadrigae ride over rocks (painted white with black spots). To right, a female and male figure advance leftwards, with a third figure (male, bearded) moving to the right but looking back.
Side A, lower: athletes. From left: two trainers (with staffs) flank a hoplitodromos, with his helmet pushed back off his head, bending forward to pick up his profile shield (decoration, balls). A second hoplitodromos stands facing left, with his shield already mounted (blazon, triskeles) and holding his helmet by the cheekpiece. Long jumper running to right with weights. To the right of a plant is a discus-thrower, shown in mid-throw. At the centre of the scene, a pipes-player, before whom stands a javelin-thrower. Another plant separates him from a pair of wrestlers in combat, overseen by a trainer. Further right, two pankratiasts, both already bleeding, are supervised by another trainer. A nude male with a wreath (?) stands watching at the far left, in front of a white-painted post.
Side B, upper: series of encircled palmettes pointing to the right.
Side B, lower: departure. From left, Scythian-attired figure looking back to right with arm outstretched, towards a man with two spears and wearing a petasos and greaves, who accompanies a horse. In front of him, a female figure watches a warrior (blazon, bull head) who looks back at her. At the center of the scene, two quadrigae. The charioteer on the left (white cloak, Boeotian-type shield) has already mounted, but the other (petasos, bearded, Boeotian-type shield) is shown stepping into his chariot. Both charioteers are confronted by a single female figure. A dog stands by the horses on the left. Before the team on the right, a warrior (blazon: triskeles) stands facing left. Behind him, a woman before a man (petasos, two spears, facing right) accompanying a horse.
The rim is decorated with a simple meander, the bottom of the belly with ascending rays, and the sides of the handles with addorsed ivy leaf chains. A graffito exists on the underside of the foot.
Images courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (CC0)