DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2533#0189
152
tup: vases and vase fragments
Fig. 91 forms a companion piece to Fig. 90 save for the use of incised lines. Through its primi-
tive execution it probably belongs to the early period of Class III. But the chief peculiarity of
the two vases lies in the subject being drawn upside down.
This peculiarity is extremely rare in vase painting-. We have already seen it in the
case of the Mycenaean jug, Fig. 20, making three from the Heraeum. I have heen able
to find but one similar instance anywhere else, a small skyphos at Syracuse (Ann. dell'
Inst. 1877, tav. d'agg. C D -4, p. 47, No. 13), on which is a frieze of water birds, the
subject being inverted in the same manner. What the object was in doing this is
decidedly obscure; it can hardly have been accidental.
Several vases of the type found at Syracuse (Not. d. Scav. 1893, p. 457, right-hand
figure) were represented either whole or in fragments, their execution being decidedly
hasty. Several fragments were found where two friezes were represented, separated by a
checkered band, while a large number belonged to very small skyphoi with a single frieze
and a border of zio'zao-s along1 the rim.
The fragments of skyphoi which belong to the best period of Class III. are rather
larger in size than those just described. All employ the incised line.
PLATE LIX.
28. Fragment of large skyphos of dark red clay, with dark brown glaze on interior. Dark
brown decoration. On base, rays : above, frieze of animals (panther).
This fragment, though inferior in technique, bears a close relation to the skyphos from Aegina
(Pallat, loo. cit. pi. vii.). The drawing of the panther, however, is firm and decided, if conventional.
The field is divided by an arrangement of vertical lines, curved and straight, similar to that found
on the neck of an oinochoe from Aegina (Pallat, loc. cit. p. 271, fig. 6).
29. Fragment of a large skyphos, of which several other fragments were found. Reddish clay,
with black glaze burnt red in parts, on interior. Main frieze: head of panther and hind quarter of
horse to right. Double lozenge in field. Above, smaller frieze as a rim border, dog to left; field
divided by a Geometric triangle scheme.
Although no fragments of the base were found, it seems probable that the base had the usual
decoration of rays, with the main frieze directly above them. Several dozen fragments belonging
to equally large skyphoi were found.
30 a and b. Two fragments from a large skyphos. Dark yellow clay, with brilliant black
glaze on interior ; also on interior, just below rim, three stripes in applied color, the upper two white,
the lower red. Exterior : on rim, border of water birds with sigmas in field. Main frieze:
a, wings, head, and hind quarters of a gryphon : b, rear part of a bird or a siren, with the back of
a crouching sphinx. Below, upper part of an animal belonging to a second frieze. Red is applied
freely on all the figures. Rosettes, sigmas, etc., as ornaments in field. Several other smaller frag-
ments were found.
That three friezes were represented on this skyphos is evident, though their arrangement cannot
be discovered. One fragment showed the back of a boar and another a helmet with a flying bird
over it. Whether a boar hunt was represented is doubtful; probably both the main friezes were
occupied by the usual series of animals, sphinxes, gryphons, etc., a male figure (with a helmet)
being introduced among them.1
The style of the fragments represents the best period of the Argive ware. The border of water
birds, so common in the earlier period, is here treated very freely and as carefully as the main
friezes.
A dozen other fragments, from as many different vases, were found, which were very
similar in technique to 30.
31. Fragment of skyphos. Yellow clay, with bright red decoration. On interior black glaze,
1 In similar fashion to the Argive lekythos in Boston, A. J. A. 1900, pi. v.
tup: vases and vase fragments
Fig. 91 forms a companion piece to Fig. 90 save for the use of incised lines. Through its primi-
tive execution it probably belongs to the early period of Class III. But the chief peculiarity of
the two vases lies in the subject being drawn upside down.
This peculiarity is extremely rare in vase painting-. We have already seen it in the
case of the Mycenaean jug, Fig. 20, making three from the Heraeum. I have heen able
to find but one similar instance anywhere else, a small skyphos at Syracuse (Ann. dell'
Inst. 1877, tav. d'agg. C D -4, p. 47, No. 13), on which is a frieze of water birds, the
subject being inverted in the same manner. What the object was in doing this is
decidedly obscure; it can hardly have been accidental.
Several vases of the type found at Syracuse (Not. d. Scav. 1893, p. 457, right-hand
figure) were represented either whole or in fragments, their execution being decidedly
hasty. Several fragments were found where two friezes were represented, separated by a
checkered band, while a large number belonged to very small skyphoi with a single frieze
and a border of zio'zao-s along1 the rim.
The fragments of skyphoi which belong to the best period of Class III. are rather
larger in size than those just described. All employ the incised line.
PLATE LIX.
28. Fragment of large skyphos of dark red clay, with dark brown glaze on interior. Dark
brown decoration. On base, rays : above, frieze of animals (panther).
This fragment, though inferior in technique, bears a close relation to the skyphos from Aegina
(Pallat, loo. cit. pi. vii.). The drawing of the panther, however, is firm and decided, if conventional.
The field is divided by an arrangement of vertical lines, curved and straight, similar to that found
on the neck of an oinochoe from Aegina (Pallat, loc. cit. p. 271, fig. 6).
29. Fragment of a large skyphos, of which several other fragments were found. Reddish clay,
with black glaze burnt red in parts, on interior. Main frieze: head of panther and hind quarter of
horse to right. Double lozenge in field. Above, smaller frieze as a rim border, dog to left; field
divided by a Geometric triangle scheme.
Although no fragments of the base were found, it seems probable that the base had the usual
decoration of rays, with the main frieze directly above them. Several dozen fragments belonging
to equally large skyphoi were found.
30 a and b. Two fragments from a large skyphos. Dark yellow clay, with brilliant black
glaze on interior ; also on interior, just below rim, three stripes in applied color, the upper two white,
the lower red. Exterior : on rim, border of water birds with sigmas in field. Main frieze:
a, wings, head, and hind quarters of a gryphon : b, rear part of a bird or a siren, with the back of
a crouching sphinx. Below, upper part of an animal belonging to a second frieze. Red is applied
freely on all the figures. Rosettes, sigmas, etc., as ornaments in field. Several other smaller frag-
ments were found.
That three friezes were represented on this skyphos is evident, though their arrangement cannot
be discovered. One fragment showed the back of a boar and another a helmet with a flying bird
over it. Whether a boar hunt was represented is doubtful; probably both the main friezes were
occupied by the usual series of animals, sphinxes, gryphons, etc., a male figure (with a helmet)
being introduced among them.1
The style of the fragments represents the best period of the Argive ware. The border of water
birds, so common in the earlier period, is here treated very freely and as carefully as the main
friezes.
A dozen other fragments, from as many different vases, were found, which were very
similar in technique to 30.
31. Fragment of skyphos. Yellow clay, with bright red decoration. On interior black glaze,
1 In similar fashion to the Argive lekythos in Boston, A. J. A. 1900, pi. v.