Terracotta pelike (wine jar)

Painter of Munich 2365

ca. 375–350 BCE · Terracotta · Greek and Roman Art

Obverse, battle between Arimaspeans and griffins Reverse, three youths conversing The Greek historian Herodotus described a legendary race of one-eyed men living in the far north who were in constant battle with the griffins guarding hoards of gold. The men were called Arimaspeans by the nomadic Scythians who dominated the steppes north of the Black Sea, and also by the Greeks. The subject matter is appropriate indeed for a group of fourth century Attic vases that were found in considerable quantity in southern Russia, specifically Kerch, whence that name, which is often used for them.

Artist

Painter of Munich 2365

Date

ca. 375–350 BCE

Medium

Terracotta

Culture

Greek, Attic

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1906