DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2533#0190
THE ARGIVE STYLE: PYXIDES AND JUGS
153
burnt red in parts. On base, ray pattern. Above, two friezes. Lower frieze, dog to right; upper
frieze, panther to left. Reversed sigma in field, lied applied on dog's shoulder and belly of
panther.
32. Fragment of small skyphos of coarse dark red clay. Rays on base and frieze above, part
of goat and tail of a bird or siren. Free use of incised lines.
Several other fragments of this particular skyphos were found, showing that one frieze only was
represented. The style of this fragment is most distinctly transitional from the Argive to the
Corinthian, and is similar to a fragment found at Aegina (Pallat, loc. tit. p. 319, fig. 37). This
pro-Corinthian type was common at the Heraeum, fragments of this kind filling half a basket.
Most of the fragments belonged to bases, and were of a grayish or greenish clay, with a pattern of
fine rays oil the base and a frieze above; the technique was extremely poor.
Plate LXV. 3. Fragment of small skyphos. Fine greenish yellow clay, with black glaze on
interior almost entirely obliterated. Heads of two lions facing each other, drawn in black and
red lines.
This fragment for fineness and delicacy of execution is equaled only by the best Attic red-figure
work. The lines of the figures stand out from the surface of the clay as in Attic work, but the
style and the use of the red line are most distinctly un-Attic; in fact, we have here a fragment of
the Argive style in its most advanced stage and far superior to any Corinthian work. No other
fragment belonging to this vase was found, and its shape is only established by the presence of a
glaze on the back. Although this would argue also for a pyxis, the slight upward curve of the
fragment makes a skyphos more probable.
Pyxides.
Except for the covers, practically none of these vases were found. One fragment of
a pyxis showed two goats facing each other, but the lack of ornaments in field as well
as the style would seem to assign it to the later period of Class II. The large pyxis on
p. 137 may well be a transitional type from Class II. to Class III.
The same proportion between the pyxides and their covers, which we have already
mentioned, held good in the case of Class III., as the covers were quite numerous, while
hardly any pyxides themselves were found. The subject on all was the same, a frieze
of animals on the outside, with or without ornaments in field, and rays radiating from
the centre. The two best examples are given below.
33. Fragment of cover. Polished yellow clay, with dark brown decoration. In centre, rays ;
animal frieze, panther and part of another to right. Careful drawing, free use of incised lines.
34. Yellowish clay. In centre, rays: animal frieze, panther to left with rosettes in field.
Checkered border. Decoration in black with red applied to panther's neck and belly. Incised
lines freely used.
This is one of the best specimens of drawing. It is worth noting, as a curious fact,
that the left-hand part of the fragment was picked up at the Heraeum by Dr. Olcott of
the American Scbool at Rome, in the spring of 1898, three years after the completion
of the excavation, and on being brought to Athens was found to fit with a fragment
excavated four years before.
A small cover was found with a single zone of figures precisely similar to those on an
aryballos from Orchomenos (B. C. II. XIX. [1895], p. 196, fig. 18).
Jugs (Kannen).
Whether the following fragments are to be included under this head is doubtful, but
as it does not seem possible to class them as lekythoi or oinochoai, the jug seems the
only possible form. It is probable that the form of Plate LXVI. 3 corresponds more
closely to jugs of the Phaleron type, and if a trefoil lip be assumed, it should by rights
153
burnt red in parts. On base, ray pattern. Above, two friezes. Lower frieze, dog to right; upper
frieze, panther to left. Reversed sigma in field, lied applied on dog's shoulder and belly of
panther.
32. Fragment of small skyphos of coarse dark red clay. Rays on base and frieze above, part
of goat and tail of a bird or siren. Free use of incised lines.
Several other fragments of this particular skyphos were found, showing that one frieze only was
represented. The style of this fragment is most distinctly transitional from the Argive to the
Corinthian, and is similar to a fragment found at Aegina (Pallat, loc. tit. p. 319, fig. 37). This
pro-Corinthian type was common at the Heraeum, fragments of this kind filling half a basket.
Most of the fragments belonged to bases, and were of a grayish or greenish clay, with a pattern of
fine rays oil the base and a frieze above; the technique was extremely poor.
Plate LXV. 3. Fragment of small skyphos. Fine greenish yellow clay, with black glaze on
interior almost entirely obliterated. Heads of two lions facing each other, drawn in black and
red lines.
This fragment for fineness and delicacy of execution is equaled only by the best Attic red-figure
work. The lines of the figures stand out from the surface of the clay as in Attic work, but the
style and the use of the red line are most distinctly un-Attic; in fact, we have here a fragment of
the Argive style in its most advanced stage and far superior to any Corinthian work. No other
fragment belonging to this vase was found, and its shape is only established by the presence of a
glaze on the back. Although this would argue also for a pyxis, the slight upward curve of the
fragment makes a skyphos more probable.
Pyxides.
Except for the covers, practically none of these vases were found. One fragment of
a pyxis showed two goats facing each other, but the lack of ornaments in field as well
as the style would seem to assign it to the later period of Class II. The large pyxis on
p. 137 may well be a transitional type from Class II. to Class III.
The same proportion between the pyxides and their covers, which we have already
mentioned, held good in the case of Class III., as the covers were quite numerous, while
hardly any pyxides themselves were found. The subject on all was the same, a frieze
of animals on the outside, with or without ornaments in field, and rays radiating from
the centre. The two best examples are given below.
33. Fragment of cover. Polished yellow clay, with dark brown decoration. In centre, rays ;
animal frieze, panther and part of another to right. Careful drawing, free use of incised lines.
34. Yellowish clay. In centre, rays: animal frieze, panther to left with rosettes in field.
Checkered border. Decoration in black with red applied to panther's neck and belly. Incised
lines freely used.
This is one of the best specimens of drawing. It is worth noting, as a curious fact,
that the left-hand part of the fragment was picked up at the Heraeum by Dr. Olcott of
the American Scbool at Rome, in the spring of 1898, three years after the completion
of the excavation, and on being brought to Athens was found to fit with a fragment
excavated four years before.
A small cover was found with a single zone of figures precisely similar to those on an
aryballos from Orchomenos (B. C. II. XIX. [1895], p. 196, fig. 18).
Jugs (Kannen).
Whether the following fragments are to be included under this head is doubtful, but
as it does not seem possible to class them as lekythoi or oinochoai, the jug seems the
only possible form. It is probable that the form of Plate LXVI. 3 corresponds more
closely to jugs of the Phaleron type, and if a trefoil lip be assumed, it should by rights