Attic Black Figure Lekythos

Date
Ca. 530 BC, Late Lydian (Persian)
Sardis or Museum Inv. No.
Butler B-P720
Material
Ceramic
Object Type
Pottery
Pottery Shape
Lekythos
Pottery Ware
Attic Black Figure
Pottery Attribution
Site
Sardis
Findspot
Necropolis, Tomb 348. (The MMA records suggest this piece may not be from Sardis.)
Description

Mended from many fragments; parts of upper body, shoulder, lower neck missing and restored in plaster. Quadriga to right and three figures. A bearded charioteer in a long tunic mounts a chariot and holds the reins. Facing him is a standing warrior holding a spear, wearing a helmet and greaves, and carrying a shield with a crescent device. Three horses are shown (one with head down), but fourteen horses' legs may be counted. At right is a figure advancing to right (only partially preserved), who carries a stick (?) or spear. White, now largely lost, for the tunic of the charioteer, crescent on the shield, central horse, and dots on the shoulder strap of the front horse. Red for the broad rim of the shield, all three manes, the collar of the front horse, and tunic of the warrior at right. Incision used for the details. Black glaze on the inner and outer lip, and on the top and sides of the handle. On shoulder at the base of neck, tongues; on the outer shoulder, interlocked buds. At top of the body, linked dots between double narrow bands. Below figured scene: a narrow and a broad black band and then solid black at lower body and top of the foot; a reserved band on the vertical face of the foot, and glazed on the astragal.

The grave also yielded other pottery, an ivory pin, and a seal carved with a Potnia Theron holding two lions by their tails: Sardis XI, 42, no. Ill, pi. 10:8, and pi. 11:24

Dimensions
H. 0.181; max. diam. 0.072
Comments
See Also
Bibliography
Author
NHR