ΚΑΛΟΣ / Beautiful
A draped youth is depicted between a square base at left, and a stele at right. Near his head the inscription «καλος πσ», where two nonsense letter «πσ» are added
Kalos inscriptions are love inscriptions that reflect, primarily, male homosexuality in Athenian life. They name a young man and praise him as «καλος». Which translates as handsome or beautiful but, in this context, carries with it an erotic connotation – in a word, sexy.
It is certain that some of the men so named were Athenian aristocrats – one of the most frequently praised was Leagros; «The Leagros Group» of painters is named after the common use of his name on their pots.
From the historical record as well as vase-paintings it may infered that youths were «καλος» in their early teenage years.
Some kalos inscriptions just state “the boy is kalos” without naming anyone in particular.
The are kale inscriptions for women, «καλή», butv these are outnumbered by kalos inscriptions more than twenty to one. Far less is known about the women called kale, but some at least were prostitutes.
Source: A.L. Clark et alt., «Understanding Greek Vases», Getty Pubblicatons
Attic red-figure kylix
Made in Athens
About 475 - 425 BC
Attributed to “The Telephos Painter”
From Kamiros, Rhodes
Rhodes, Archaeological Museum
ΚΑΛΟΣ / Beautiful
A draped youth is depicted between a square base at left, and a stele at right. Near his head the inscription «καλος πσ», where two nonsense letter «πσ» are added
Kalos inscriptions are love inscriptions that reflect, primarily, male homosexuality in Athenian life. They name a young man and praise him as «καλος». Which translates as handsome or beautiful but, in this context, carries with it an erotic connotation – in a word, sexy.
It is certain that some of the men so named were Athenian aristocrats – one of the most frequently praised was Leagros; «The Leagros Group» of painters is named after the common use of his name on their pots.
From the historical record as well as vase-paintings it may infered that youths were «καλος» in their early teenage years.
Some kalos inscriptions just state “the boy is kalos” without naming anyone in particular.
The are kale inscriptions for women, «καλή», butv these are outnumbered by kalos inscriptions more than twenty to one. Far less is known about the women called kale, but some at least were prostitutes.
Source: A.L. Clark et alt., «Understanding Greek Vases», Getty Pubblicatons
Attic red-figure kylix
Made in Athens
About 475 - 425 BC
Attributed to “The Telephos Painter”
From Kamiros, Rhodes
Rhodes, Archaeological Museum