Proto-Paestan Red-Figure Calyx Krater
Side A: Dionysiac scene showing a white-haired phlyax or comic actor between the god Dionysos and a satyr, all moving left over gently undulating ground, depicted by curving lines in added white, from which spring a few plants.
At the head of the procession is a youthful Dionysos, naked except for drapery over both arms, which flows behind his back. His long hair is crowned with an ivy wreath in added white. He holds a kithara (details in added white) in his left hand and a plectrum in his right. Turning his head to the right, he faces the phlyax who follows him, holding a blazing torch in each hand and wearing the mask of an old man (Type L or M, with details in added white). Behind him comes a bearded satyr whose chest and belly are covered with shaggy hair. The satyr plays double pipes and carries piggyback a small Eros. The latter wears a spiky diadem; his hands grasp the satyr's head above the brow, and his legs come down on either side of his head. The wings of Eros are outspread and enlivened by a white edge at the top and black or black-on-white dots on the feathers.
Side B: To left a nude bearded satyr, wearing a fillet or diadem around his head, bends forward over his left foot, which rests on a rock pile; he holds a string of beads in his left hand and with his right he gesticulates towards a maenad. The latter stands, wearing a chiton and holds a thyrsos.
Around the rim: band of laurel. Below the picture field on A and B: band of meander, with a saltire square at each end.
At the head of the procession is a youthful Dionysos, naked except for drapery over both arms, which flows behind his back. His long hair is crowned with an ivy wreath in added white. He holds a kithara (details in added white) in his left hand and a plectrum in his right. Turning his head to the right, he faces the phlyax who follows him, holding a blazing torch in each hand and wearing the mask of an old man (Type L or M, with details in added white). Behind him comes a bearded satyr whose chest and belly are covered with shaggy hair. The satyr plays double pipes and carries piggyback a small Eros. The latter wears a spiky diadem; his hands grasp the satyr's head above the brow, and his legs come down on either side of his head. The wings of Eros are outspread and enlivened by a white edge at the top and black or black-on-white dots on the feathers.
Side B: To left a nude bearded satyr, wearing a fillet or diadem around his head, bends forward over his left foot, which rests on a rock pile; he holds a string of beads in his left hand and with his right he gesticulates towards a maenad. The latter stands, wearing a chiton and holds a thyrsos.
Around the rim: band of laurel. Below the picture field on A and B: band of meander, with a saltire square at each end.
Images courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (CC0)