Getty Museum

Attic Red-Figure Bell Krater

Date

early 4th century B.C.

Medium

Terracotta

Culture

Greek (Attic)

Department

Vessels

Institution

Getty Museum

Side A: group of nine figures, sitting or standing. At the center sits a white-haired bearded male with a sceptre (a king, perhaps Minos). He has high boots and a patterned long-sleeved tunic. Like the other male figures in the scene, he also wears a berried wreath. He looks back at a barefoot woman who stands at left, plucking at her drapery. In her right hand she holds a round white object, perhaps an egg. On either side of this pair sits a woman. A fourth woman stands at far right, and a fifth sits at the feet of the bearded male. Sitting with his back to this woman, directly below the bearded man, is a nude male with a club, identifiable as Herakles or Theseus. A youth with a himation and petasos sits before him, looking back, and another youth stands above, at the far left of the scene. Three berried wreaths hang in the background. All of the female figures wear bracelets, necklaces, jewellery, and elaborately patterned garments. Side B: Maenad wearing a himation, holding a thyrsos, between two bearded, draped men. Under the picture field, meander band with key pattern interspersed with cross squares. Under the handles, palmette pattern. Around the mouth, laurel leaf band.

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