The Achilles Painter XXI: Dionysiac Thiasos
Dionysos in a procession with maenads and satyrs is one of the most popular themes on Attic vases starting in the second quarter of the sixth century B.C. One of the finest red-figure examples is this pointed amphora in Paris, where eight maenads and two satyrs accompany the god of wine around the body of the vase. He is dressed in a long chiton, “pardalis” (leopard skin), “endromides” (boots), and a thick fillet wrapped around his head. Moving swiftly right, but looking back, he holds a branch up in his left hand, and a kantharos down in the right.
Each maenad is different. One plays “tympamum”, another “auloi”; another dances in a twisted pose with head turned down and left hand raised; two cling to one other, the right one of whom has a snake wrapped around her left arm; another holds the torn halves of a fawn and dances with legs spread wide apart. Their dress shows variety and includes chitons, peploi, “nebris”, wreaths, sakkos, and headband. The two satyrs dance with one arm raised. Torches, branches and thyrsoi are carried by both types of figures.
A good sense of the ecstasy connected with the Worship of Dionysos is brilliantly reflected on this Vase, and the subject matter could not be more appropriate for a wine storage jar.
Source: John H. Oakley, The Achilles Painter
Source: John H. Oakley, The Achilles Painter
CARC / CAVI @ www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/
Red-figure pointed amphora – Inv. 357
Height 61,9 cm; great diameter 40,7 cm
Attributed to The Achilles Painter
450 - 445 BC
Paris, Department of Coins, Medals and Antiquities
The Achilles Painter XXI: Dionysiac Thiasos
Dionysos in a procession with maenads and satyrs is one of the most popular themes on Attic vases starting in the second quarter of the sixth century B.C. One of the finest red-figure examples is this pointed amphora in Paris, where eight maenads and two satyrs accompany the god of wine around the body of the vase. He is dressed in a long chiton, “pardalis” (leopard skin), “endromides” (boots), and a thick fillet wrapped around his head. Moving swiftly right, but looking back, he holds a branch up in his left hand, and a kantharos down in the right.
Each maenad is different. One plays “tympamum”, another “auloi”; another dances in a twisted pose with head turned down and left hand raised; two cling to one other, the right one of whom has a snake wrapped around her left arm; another holds the torn halves of a fawn and dances with legs spread wide apart. Their dress shows variety and includes chitons, peploi, “nebris”, wreaths, sakkos, and headband. The two satyrs dance with one arm raised. Torches, branches and thyrsoi are carried by both types of figures.
A good sense of the ecstasy connected with the Worship of Dionysos is brilliantly reflected on this Vase, and the subject matter could not be more appropriate for a wine storage jar.
Source: John H. Oakley, The Achilles Painter
Source: John H. Oakley, The Achilles Painter
CARC / CAVI @ www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/
Red-figure pointed amphora – Inv. 357
Height 61,9 cm; great diameter 40,7 cm
Attributed to The Achilles Painter
450 - 445 BC
Paris, Department of Coins, Medals and Antiquities