Cleveland Museum of Art

Black-Figure Oinochoe (Wine Jug): Boxers

Class of London B 524

Date

c. 550–540 BCE

Medium

ceramic

Culture

Greek, Attic

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Two stout young boxers, unbearded, face off on this small wine jug. Curiously, while one boxer has both hands wrapped for fighting (in leather straps known as himantes ), the other has left one hand bare, holding it up to fend off punches. The seated figure at left, with one hand raised, may be a judge. The standing figure at right, whose white hair and beard are now mostly gone, is likely a spectator. An ancient boxing match (or pyx ) continued until one boxer could not (or would not) continue.

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