Greek hoplite pursuing Scythian warrior by The Berlin Painter 480-470 BCE

October 11, 2022

Greek hoplite pursuing Scythian warrior by The Berlin Painter 480-470 BCE

"Condition: Restored from fragments with numerous losses; greater part of neck on side A reconstructed; breaks in places retouched, but figure work largely free of in-painting; gap through middle of warrior on side A clearly visible.

H. 47 cm.; Diam. (of mouth) 18.9 cm.; Diam. (of foot) 13.5 cm.

The body of this vase is entirely black except for two figures that "float" without ground lines. A lunging hoplite is depicted on side A (not seen here), in greaves, cuirass, and a puched-back Corinthian helmet. On his left arm he holds out a large round shield, over which is draped a shield apron. Side B (seen here) presents a Scythian fleeing to our right, glancing anxiously over his shoulder. He is bedecked in typical Scythian costume--a tall cap that extends onto his shoulders with flaps at the back and sides of the neck, and tight, patterned garments: a long-sleeved jacket worn over a shirt, long leggings, and a short cloth with a separate front panel worn like a loincloth. On his feet are soft pointed shoes fastened with laces. In his left hand he holds out a bow. A machaira is in his right hand, and attached to his waist is a gorytos (the combined quiver and bow-case used by peoples to the north and east of Greece). The long red beard and snub-nosed physiognomy characterize this figure as un-Greek in contrast to the hoplite on side A. For an interesting link between the Greek view of the half-human and the barbarian, one can compare here the elderly komast on side B of the Berlin Painter's neck amphora in the Getty Museum (86.AE.187) and the bearded komast on side A of the neck amphora in London (E266); both works are early in the painter's career, as is the Fleischman vase. Also similar are the facial features of the satyrs on the artist's name piece in Berlin and on his Munich panathenaic amphora.

In contrast to the scenes on black-figured vases, this illustration may be a reference to the Greek triumph over the Persians in 479 B.C.E., a recent event when this vase was painted. The Scythians, a more northern people, were allied to the Persians during that invasion.

Erratic relief contours are more extensive on side A of this vase. A lightly incised preliminary sketch is clearly visible. Dilute glaze was used for many details throughout, while added red was used sparingly: for the ties securing the ends of the warriors shoulder flaps, for the quiver harness encircling the barbarian's waist, and for the forward edge of his cap. Under the foot there is a graffito in Attic script ON, possibly a price inscription.

Formerly in the collection of Barbara and Lawrence Fleischman; text from the catalogue of their collection.

From the collection of the Getty Villa, Malibu, California."

-taken from Ancient Art & Numismatics (antiquitiesproject) flickr