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Red-Figure Kylix

Creator

Painter

Apollodoros worked as a vase-painter in Athens in the period around 500 B.C. He signed his name to two cups, and many more have been attributed to him on the basis of style. He worked in the red-figure technique; like many vase-painters, he tended to specialize in the decoration of cups. The process of identifying the work of Apollodoros shows the difficulties in recognizing the work of ancient ar

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Date: about 500 B.C.
Medium: Terracotta
Culture: Greek (Attic)
Department: Vessels
Institution: Getty Museum

The cup is undecorated on the exterior. The interior contains a tondo bordered by a simple reserve line. The subject of the scene is the Theban sphinx flying over the sea, carrying in her talons the body of a dead youth. The youth's head hangs limp as he is carried underneath the sphinx who has intertwined her body with his and clutches his left arm with her talons, drawing blood. The youth still carries his staff in his right hand. In the sea below, waves and fish can be seen. Inscribed in red around the figures is "Kleomelos is beautiful."

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