Exekias Kylix

Vase: KylixPotter & Painter: Exekias signedDate: 535 B.C.Diameter: 30.5 cmSubjects Interior: DionysusExterior: pair of apotropaic eyes Exterior under handles:Hoplites fight over bodies of fallen. Foot signed by Exekias

Kylix

• Cup for wine drinking

• Exekias introduced new shape is so called ‘A type’ which has a shallow bowl with plain lip and a splaying foot offset from the bowl.

• 2 horizontal handles placed symmetrically around the cup

• Interior is a tondo shape

Interior decorationShows Dionysus reclining on his symposium boat, surrounded by dolphins.

The bow of his boat is shaped like a stylized boar and the stern is shaped like a swan

The field is painted in coral red (innovation), forming a seamless background encompassing both sea and sky which fills the whole interior of the cup rather than being confined to a central tondo. The composition is unusually well suited to the circular field of the vase

• holding a keras or rhyton (drinking horn) in his right hand Based on Homer’s ‘Hymn to Dionysos’

Dionysus was kidnapped on the way to Greece by pirates.

He revealed his divine persona by turning the mast into a vine which grow vines which produced grapes, as Dionysus is the god of wine.

The terrified pirates jumped overboard and turned into dolphins.

Exterior Decoration

• 2 pairs of apotropaic eyes painted in black and purple w/ exaggerated tear ducts and stylized nose.

• Eyes thought to be magical; When you tip the cup and drink out of it, even though your eyes are hidden, the apotropaic eyes can see for you

Exterior DecorationWarriors wear corinthian helmets

Warrior still has his armour

Warrior has been stripped of his armour, the prize of the victors

Innovations

• Exekias added a lot of purple to the eyes, warriors, grapes as detail(much of this has rubbed off).

• Whole interior painted as opposed to only a small central medallion

• Red Ochre colour, also called “international red”, was revolutionary

• Black glaze layered in places to give decoration depth.

Underneath Decoration

• Concentric bands in black and purple

• Stylized rays

• Signed EXEKIAS EPOIESE

= EXEKIAS MADE [ME]