Collection Item – Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities

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Bell-Krater; Attributed to the Cyclops Painter; ca. 420-410 BC; 18.53

From:UC Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities

Name/TitleBell-Krater

About this objectBell-Kraters, named for their bell-shaped bodies, were used to mix wine and water. Undiluted wine was exceedingly strong and was watered down until the alcohol was around 10% of the liquid, much lower than today's standards. The Greeks believed that only barbarians drank wine undiluted, as is evidenced by stories like Odysseus and Polyphemus - the barbarous cyclopes did not realise that the wine needed to be watered down.

Both sides of this vase appear to feature everyday scenes. Side A shows two naked athletes speaking to a woman, whose form is suggested beneath her chiton (a type of Greek dress). Meanwhile, the opposite side shows a similar scene with a trio of young men, all clothed.

This vase is attributed to the Cyclops Painter, an early Lucanian red-figure vase-painter who influenced on the Palermo and Karneia Painters. He was named by Arthur Dale Trendall after a vase in the British Museum of Odysseus blinding the Polyphemus.

MakerAttributed to the Cyclops Painter

Maker RoleArtist

Date Madeca. 420-410 BC

PeriodClassical

Medium and MaterialsCeramic: Pottery

Style and IconographyLucanian

Style and IconographyRed-figure

TechniqueSlip trailing (relief line)

TechniqueThrowing (pottery technique)

MeasurementsHeight 339mm; Diameter at lip 321mm

Subject and Association KeywordsClothing and dress

Subject and Association KeywordsWomen in art

Subject and Association KeywordsSports in art

Named CollectionThe James Logie Memorial Collection, University of Canterbury, New Zealand

Object TypeFood Service Vessels

Object number18.53