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Image
3D Model
© Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya - Empúries
Omeka ID 110
Empúries. Indeterminat
Greece

pelike

MAC EMP-01494

Object type
pelikai
Production date
-450 / -350
Fabric
Attic red-figure
Museum
Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya - Empúries
Culture
Greece
Discovery location
Empúries. Indeterminat
Materials
pottery
Township
Escala, l' (Europa, Espanya, Catalunya, Girona, Alt Empordà)
Technique
wheel-thrown
Where is it?
Exposició permanent
Dimensions
642 x 420 mm
Description
Large attic red-figure ceramic pelike, of considerable size. The piece has a globular body, a cylindrical neck, two wide ribbed handles, a highly developed hanging lip and a large rectangular section foot on the outside. It is varnished in glossy black with brown tones and seems to be burnt in some areas. The decoration on the main side (A) depicts what has been interpreted as a celebration of the triumph of a choir in a competition of dithyrambic or lyrical composition, such as the one that took place at the Athenian festival of the Targèlies. Other opinions, however, see an allegorical representation, more generic, of the choral victory dedicated to Dionysus. The image is centred by a large tripod on a column of acanthus, between winged female figures, two of which are identified as Higea (health) and Niké (victory), from the white paint inscriptions, now largely lost. On either side, the figures of Dionysus, with the shot, and Apollo, with the zither, presided as protective gods of theatre and music. The decoration was enriched by various figures of satyrs and maenads, sometimes holding a theatrical mask and identified by inscriptions such as allegories of Paidida (game), Galene (calm), Talia (party) or Comodia (comedy). In contrast, the back side (B) shows the rather different result of another mythological celebration, the wedding of Pirítous and Hipodamia, that provoked the fight of centaurs and pencils. The preserved fragments display some of the characters and details of this combat. In addition to the figure of Pirítous, three of the centaurs were also identified by painted inscriptions (Lycurgs, Xanthos, Foitos). The presence of fallen vessels - a crater and a jug - allows us to situate the fight in the same place as the banquet.

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