This vessel is representative of white-ground technique prevalent in ancient Greek pottery between the 5th and 4th centuries BC. This technique involves applying a white slip to give the surface an enhanced white look which is then painted with detailed designs.
The artifact is a kylix, a wine-drinking vessel of shallow breadth. The executed art depicts religious themes and measures roughly 30 cm in diameter, suggesting its role in ceremonial or ritual activities.
The exterior features two distinct representations of Apollo, the God of prophecy, music, and healing in Greek mythology, with the crow from Aigle-Koroni. One side shows Apollo with his characteristic signifiers – hair crowned with a laurel wreath, a lyre in his left hand, and a bowl in his right. The framing comes from laurel sprays and he is seated on a leopard skin-draped rock, an allusion to Dionysian rituals.
The opposing side presents the crow, a creature of importance in Apollo's mythology, seated on a pomegranate tree branch with hanging fruits. This scene symbolizes divine revelation through the combination of human and animal forms.
The internal face of the kylix features a single figure of a standing youth, indicative of the symposium's traditional practices in ancient Greece. The figure holds an ivy branch in his left hand; a known symbol associated with the Dionysian cult.
Workmanship of the artifact is attributed to the Kleophrades Painter, an influential 5th century BC Greek artisan known for detailed and narrative-driven art. The fineness of the brushwork in the depiction of figures, precise attention to drapery folds, and contour lines highlight his mastery.
This kylix exemplifies the mix of Apollonian and Dionysian elements offering a unique thematic depth. It mirrors the religious syncretism characteristic of Greek society during the time of its creation.
