Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)

Athena Painter

1st quarter of 5th century BCE · Terracotta · Greek and Roman Art

Gigantomachy (battle of the gods and giants), with Hermes and Athena In Athens, vases of this type were closely connected with funerary rites because of the importance of oil in preparing the body for burial and as an offering at the grave. This battle scene between the Olympian gods and the earth-born giants is painted in a modification of the black-figure style that uses a thin coat of white clay as background.

Artist

Athena Painter

Date

1st quarter of 5th century BCE

Medium

Terracotta

Culture

Greek, Attic

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1907