Terracotta kylix (drinking cup)

Amasis Painter

ca. 540 BCE · Terracotta · Greek and Roman Art

Obverse, Poseidon, the god of the seas, among Greek warriors Reverse, the stables of Poseidon The subjects are drawn from book 13 of Homer's Iliad. Poseidon, seeing the Greeks hard-pressed, decided to help renew their valor. At his underwater palace, he ordered his chariot prepared so that he could ride to their aid. On one side of this cup, an atmosphere of feverish excitement reigns in the stables as grooms attempt to soothe four high-strung horses tethered to columns. Supernatural forces seem to have been unleashed: tiny figures race over the horses' backs and swing down from the architectural frieze above. On the other side of the cup, Poseidon, carrying a trident, urges on the Greek heroes.

Artist

Amasis Painter

Date

ca. 540 BCE

Medium

Terracotta

Culture

Greek, Attic

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Gift of Norbert Schimmel Trust, 1989