Reclining on a couch, an older balding man tilts his head back and sings, accompanying himself on the lyre. Several features of the scene, such as the couch, the pillow, and especially the wreath the man wears, reveal that he is a participant at a symposion or drinking party. Many Greek vases, especially elaborate cups, were designed for use at such parties. Therefore, vase-painters frequently decorated these vessels with scenes of revelry and drinking. The circular area or tondo on the interior of a cup presented problems for Greek vase-painters. It was difficult to fit upright figures in this limited, curving space. Artists devised different solutions for this problem: some drew a line across the circle to create an artificial ground-line for their figures. On this vase, Epiktetos came up with a creative solution. He drew a line across the circle but made it the man's couch, rather than a ground-line. The edge of the man's mantle slipping down behind and below the line, creates the impression of depth and space. Epiktetos also used the circular frame of the tondo as part of the composition: it supports the man's pillow, and he props his foot on it. --J. Paul Getty Museum ; Bareiss Loan Number: S.80.AE.252
Reclining on a couch, an older balding man tilts his head back and sings, accompanying himself on the lyre. Several features of the scene, such as the couch, the pillow, and especially the wreath the man wears, reveal that he is a participant at a symposion or drinking party. Many Greek vases, especially elaborate cups, were designed for use at such parties. Therefore, vase-painters frequently decorated these vessels with scenes of revelry and drinking. The circular area or tondo on the interior of a cup presented problems for Greek vase-painters. It was difficult to fit upright figures in this limited, curving space. Artists devised different solutions for this problem: some drew a line across the circle to create an artificial ground-line for their figures. On this vase, Epiktetos came up with a creative solution. He drew a line across the circle but made it the man's couch, rather than a ground-line. The edge of the man's mantle slipping down behind and below the line, creates the impression of depth and space. Epiktetos also used the circular frame of the tondo as part of the composition: it supports the man's pillow, and he props his foot on it. --J. Paul Getty Museum ; Bareiss Loan Number: S.80.AE.252
Reclining on a couch, an older balding man tilts his head back and sings, accompanying himself on the lyre. Several features of the scene, such as the couch, the pillow, and especially the wreath the man wears, reveal that he is a participant at a symposion or drinking party. Many Greek vases, especially elaborate cups, were designed for use at such parties. Therefore, vase-painters frequently decorated these vessels with scenes of revelry and drinking. The circular area or tondo on the interior of a cup presented problems for Greek vase-painters. It was difficult to fit upright figures in this limited, curving space. Artists devised different solutions for this problem: some drew a line across the circle to create an artificial ground-line for their figures. On this vase, Epiktetos came up with a creative solution. He drew a line across the circle but made it the man's couch, rather than a ground-line. The edge of the man's mantle slipping down behind and below the line, creates the impression of depth and space. Epiktetos also used the circular frame of the tondo as part of the composition: it supports the man's pillow, and he props his foot on it. --J. Paul Getty Museum ; Bareiss Loan Number: S.80.AE.252
Scenes of nude male revelers and hetairai, or high-class prostitutes, decorate this Athenian red-figure kylix or cup. On the interior of the cup, a reclining hetaira plays kottabos, a popular drinking game at symposia, or aristocratic drinking parties. The woman slips one handle of a cup over her index finger and tries to flick the dregs from the bottom of the cup at a target some distance away. Related scenes cover the outside of the cup. On one side, another reclining hetaira plays krotala, castanet-like instruments, while one youth offers her a large cup and another youth dances behind her. On the other side, three more youths dance. Scenes of hetairai were a were a popular subject in Greek vase-painting, especially on vases meant to be used at a symposion. For most Athenian men, the only interaction that they would have with women outside their own family was with mistresses or hetairai, who were usually slaves or foreigners. Respectable Athenian women led a very secluded life in which the nudity and frolicking shown on this vase would have been unthinkable. --J. Paul Getty Museum
Scenes of nude male revelers and hetairai, or high-class prostitutes, decorate this Athenian red-figure kylix or cup. On the interior of the cup, a reclining hetaira plays kottabos, a popular drinking game at symposia, or aristocratic drinking parties. The woman slips one handle of a cup over her index finger and tries to flick the dregs from the bottom of the cup at a target some distance away. Related scenes cover the outside of the cup. On one side, another reclining hetaira plays krotala, castanet-like instruments, while one youth offers her a large cup and another youth dances behind her. On the other side, three more youths dance. Scenes of hetairai were a were a popular subject in Greek vase-painting, especially on vases meant to be used at a symposion. For most Athenian men, the only interaction that they would have with women outside their own family was with mistresses or hetairai, who were usually slaves or foreigners. Respectable Athenian women led a very secluded life in which the nudity and frolicking shown on this vase would have been unthinkable. --J. Paul Getty Museum