DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8577#0321
CATALOGUE OF EARI
Corinthian column-craters vary in shape consider-
ably. The earliest form, exemplified by nos. 776-80
in the following list, is extremely massive, with very
low and relatively narrow neck, and handle-plates
which barely project beyond the vertical columns.
The middle Corinthian form shows many variations in
the shape of the body, but the neck is always a trifle
higher, and it is usually wider; the handle-plates
project farther than before, and are approximately
square, not oblong. The same form is also found
in the late period. Side by side with it in the late
period we find a new version of the shape, with much
higher neck (cf. no. 1452); then the whole shape is re-
cast, under the influence of bronze vases (see p. 213).
The column-crater appears in Attica in the early
sixth century, in a form which corresponds to that of
the middle Corinthian period—that is to say with
square handle-plates, and higher neck than in the
seventh-century Corinthian type.1 It is obviously
borrowed from Corinth. It is not really a common
shape at Athens before the middle of the century.
A vase of local fabric from Alalkomenai, now at
Thebes, shows that the shape spread further north,
into Boeotia. On the far east of the Aegean it was
copied by Rhodian 2 and Naukratite potters,3 at a
time when they had already adopted the Corinthian
black-figure technique, and was known to Clazo-
menian artists also.4 Corinthian vases were im-
ported into Lydia, and it may have been directly
from Corinthian models, but equally from Ionian,
that the shape was copied by Lydian potters.5
Laconian column-craters are all of the latest ('Chal-
cidian') type, but we meet the Corinthian shape
proper in various native Italian imitations.6 Bronze
column-craters, possibly Corinthian, have recently
been published for the first time (cf. ch. xiv).
The earliest group of Corinthian craters has certain
distinctive features in addition to those already men-
tioned. In nos. 776, 8, 80 A the upper rim is
decorated with rays, a pattern sometimes, but not
usually, found on sixth-century craters. The rims
of middle Corinthian craters are normally decorated
with a lotus and palmette chain, or with zigzags;
on late Corinthian, zigzags are normal. In the
earliest vases the upper row of figures in noticeably
1 The earliest group of Attic column-craters are those of
the Comast fabric (see p. 196). The vase in Athens A.M.
1922 pi. S, is at least as early as the earliest of these.
2 Petrie, Naukratis ii, pi. 11; cf. i, pi. 4; Boehlau, pi. 12,5;
cf. the Cycladic fragment Delos x, pi. 10,44b, with a paint-
ing of a column-crater. 3 Deltion 1916, 204, fig. 23.
4 Fragment, Berlin inv. 30409; Pfuhl (i, 137) mentions
one in Bonn; there are fragments of another, from Nau-
kratis, in Boston. One is painted on the Clazomenian vase,
7 CORINTHIAN VASES 301
small in proportion to the height of the whole,
scarcely reaching to the point of greatest diameter.
This is likely to be an early feature. These indica-
tions are convincingly confirmed by the style of the
painted decoration on the vases which follow.
Athens 12432, from Corinth (A.J.A. 1898pi. 6). On 776
h.p., double palmettes as on other early Corinthian
vases (cf. no. 634). One group in panel on each side.
A,swan between cocks. B,panther,boar. Syracuse, 777
from Gela (Mon. Ant. xvii, 621 fig. 430). Frag.: A,
goat, swan. No second frieze (cf. last). Leipzig,(A. 778
Anz. 1923/4 70, fig. 11). Frag.: 1, cocks and hen.
2, part of goat. Vatican 88 (Albizzati pi. 10 and fig. 779
13; photo Alinari 35749). H.p. cocks, precisely in the
style of many early alabastra (no. 267 and ff.) 1, A,
battle. B, horsemen. 2, Panthers, goats, lion, bull.
We must pause a moment atthis point, for Albizzati,
in his recent publication, not only attributes this vase
to the middle of the sixth century, whereas I place it
before the end of the seventh, but uses it to support
the view that the Protocorinthian style lasted till the
same period.
Albizzati's arguments are as follows: (1) the style
resembles that of Attic vases of the mid sixth century;
this is therefore a likely date for the crater; (2) the cocks
on the handle-plates resemble those of small alabastra
[like no. 267 and ff. just quoted]; (3) these small
alabastra are found in graves with Protocorinthian
vases; (4) therefore the Protocorinthian style lasted
till the middle of the sixth century. As these con-
clusions are almost as far removed from my own as
possible, we must examine them more closely.
First, as to the date of the crater: presumably, the
comparison with Attic vases refers to the battle-scene
on A, for the row of walking horsemen on B is not
a specially Attic motive in the mid-sixth century, and
the type of the horses is quite unlike that of Attic
work at this time; battles, on the other hand, are
the favourite subject. But the battle on our crater
is almost entirely modern, as one can see even
from photographs; the only figure that is ancient is
the warrior on the extreme left. Likewise, all the
animals on this side save the panther and the fore-
part of the bull are completely repainted. On the
basis of this single figure it seems more than a little
Buschor2, 106 fig. 76. There is a black-figured example
(?) Ionian, in the Calvert Collection; photo in the German
Institute at Athens.
5 Sardis 1, 80 fig. 75 A; Perrot v, 293; J-H.S. 1924, 207,
fig. 36; Sardis x, pi. 1.
6 Cf. the Etruscan vases quoted on p. 209 ; the majority,
at any rate, of native Apulian column-craters (A. Anz.
1916, 70 fig. 31 ; Gervasio, Bronzi e Vasi, pi. 6; &c.) are
later and are no doubt based on Attic models.
Corinthian column-craters vary in shape consider-
ably. The earliest form, exemplified by nos. 776-80
in the following list, is extremely massive, with very
low and relatively narrow neck, and handle-plates
which barely project beyond the vertical columns.
The middle Corinthian form shows many variations in
the shape of the body, but the neck is always a trifle
higher, and it is usually wider; the handle-plates
project farther than before, and are approximately
square, not oblong. The same form is also found
in the late period. Side by side with it in the late
period we find a new version of the shape, with much
higher neck (cf. no. 1452); then the whole shape is re-
cast, under the influence of bronze vases (see p. 213).
The column-crater appears in Attica in the early
sixth century, in a form which corresponds to that of
the middle Corinthian period—that is to say with
square handle-plates, and higher neck than in the
seventh-century Corinthian type.1 It is obviously
borrowed from Corinth. It is not really a common
shape at Athens before the middle of the century.
A vase of local fabric from Alalkomenai, now at
Thebes, shows that the shape spread further north,
into Boeotia. On the far east of the Aegean it was
copied by Rhodian 2 and Naukratite potters,3 at a
time when they had already adopted the Corinthian
black-figure technique, and was known to Clazo-
menian artists also.4 Corinthian vases were im-
ported into Lydia, and it may have been directly
from Corinthian models, but equally from Ionian,
that the shape was copied by Lydian potters.5
Laconian column-craters are all of the latest ('Chal-
cidian') type, but we meet the Corinthian shape
proper in various native Italian imitations.6 Bronze
column-craters, possibly Corinthian, have recently
been published for the first time (cf. ch. xiv).
The earliest group of Corinthian craters has certain
distinctive features in addition to those already men-
tioned. In nos. 776, 8, 80 A the upper rim is
decorated with rays, a pattern sometimes, but not
usually, found on sixth-century craters. The rims
of middle Corinthian craters are normally decorated
with a lotus and palmette chain, or with zigzags;
on late Corinthian, zigzags are normal. In the
earliest vases the upper row of figures in noticeably
1 The earliest group of Attic column-craters are those of
the Comast fabric (see p. 196). The vase in Athens A.M.
1922 pi. S, is at least as early as the earliest of these.
2 Petrie, Naukratis ii, pi. 11; cf. i, pi. 4; Boehlau, pi. 12,5;
cf. the Cycladic fragment Delos x, pi. 10,44b, with a paint-
ing of a column-crater. 3 Deltion 1916, 204, fig. 23.
4 Fragment, Berlin inv. 30409; Pfuhl (i, 137) mentions
one in Bonn; there are fragments of another, from Nau-
kratis, in Boston. One is painted on the Clazomenian vase,
7 CORINTHIAN VASES 301
small in proportion to the height of the whole,
scarcely reaching to the point of greatest diameter.
This is likely to be an early feature. These indica-
tions are convincingly confirmed by the style of the
painted decoration on the vases which follow.
Athens 12432, from Corinth (A.J.A. 1898pi. 6). On 776
h.p., double palmettes as on other early Corinthian
vases (cf. no. 634). One group in panel on each side.
A,swan between cocks. B,panther,boar. Syracuse, 777
from Gela (Mon. Ant. xvii, 621 fig. 430). Frag.: A,
goat, swan. No second frieze (cf. last). Leipzig,(A. 778
Anz. 1923/4 70, fig. 11). Frag.: 1, cocks and hen.
2, part of goat. Vatican 88 (Albizzati pi. 10 and fig. 779
13; photo Alinari 35749). H.p. cocks, precisely in the
style of many early alabastra (no. 267 and ff.) 1, A,
battle. B, horsemen. 2, Panthers, goats, lion, bull.
We must pause a moment atthis point, for Albizzati,
in his recent publication, not only attributes this vase
to the middle of the sixth century, whereas I place it
before the end of the seventh, but uses it to support
the view that the Protocorinthian style lasted till the
same period.
Albizzati's arguments are as follows: (1) the style
resembles that of Attic vases of the mid sixth century;
this is therefore a likely date for the crater; (2) the cocks
on the handle-plates resemble those of small alabastra
[like no. 267 and ff. just quoted]; (3) these small
alabastra are found in graves with Protocorinthian
vases; (4) therefore the Protocorinthian style lasted
till the middle of the sixth century. As these con-
clusions are almost as far removed from my own as
possible, we must examine them more closely.
First, as to the date of the crater: presumably, the
comparison with Attic vases refers to the battle-scene
on A, for the row of walking horsemen on B is not
a specially Attic motive in the mid-sixth century, and
the type of the horses is quite unlike that of Attic
work at this time; battles, on the other hand, are
the favourite subject. But the battle on our crater
is almost entirely modern, as one can see even
from photographs; the only figure that is ancient is
the warrior on the extreme left. Likewise, all the
animals on this side save the panther and the fore-
part of the bull are completely repainted. On the
basis of this single figure it seems more than a little
Buschor2, 106 fig. 76. There is a black-figured example
(?) Ionian, in the Calvert Collection; photo in the German
Institute at Athens.
5 Sardis 1, 80 fig. 75 A; Perrot v, 293; J-H.S. 1924, 207,
fig. 36; Sardis x, pi. 1.
6 Cf. the Etruscan vases quoted on p. 209 ; the majority,
at any rate, of native Apulian column-craters (A. Anz.
1916, 70 fig. 31 ; Gervasio, Bronzi e Vasi, pi. 6; &c.) are
later and are no doubt based on Attic models.