Greek Vases: Attic Black Figure


	established 1942

ATTIC BLACK-FIGURE AMPHORA OF PANATHENAIC FORM

A trainer watches two nude boxers, hands bound with meilichai.
Rev.: Athena Promachos flanked by Doric columns, each surmounted by a cockerel.

A museum-piece with an important provenance.

Ex Collection of the 2nd Marquis of Northampton, Castle Ashby.
Acquired in Italy in the 1820s; first published in 1846.

Ca. 500 BC

H. 16 3/8 in. (41.1 cm.)

Art of the Ancient World, 2006, no. 98
Art of the Ancient World, 1999, no. 101
CLL215R
SOLD


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Attic Black-figure neck amphora of panathenaic form. A trainer wearing a himation and carrying a staff and a split cane, watches two nude muscular boxers, each of whom has one hand bound with meilichai (leather thongs). Rev.: Athena Promachos wearing a high-crested helmet, aegis and chiton, armed with a spear and shield with the device of a winged horse protome, is flanked by two slender Doric columns surmounted by a cockerel. This vase resembles the work of Kleophrades.

Published: J. Boardman and M. Robertson, Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum: Castle Ashby 1979; First published by E. Gerhard in Archäologische Zeitung in 1846.

Amphorae of this form, containing olive oil (the first olive tree was held to have been the gift of Athena to the city) were awarded as prizes to the victors at the Panathenaic games. On one side, they depict Athena Promachos in whose honor the games were held, and the particular event for which the vase was being awarded, on the other side. The Panathenaic festival was held annually in Athens during Hekatombaion (July/August), commemorating the birth of Athena, the patroness of the city. Every four years the festival was expanded to become the ‘greater Panathenaea.’ Only then, probably, occurred the great procession, as evoked on the Parthenon frieze, bringing the famous Panathenaic robe, embroidered with scenes from the battle of the Gods and Giants, to her temple on the Acropolis.

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