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View: Side A
Drinking cup (skyphos) depicting chorus scenes
Attributed to: the Heron Group
Greek
Archaic Period
about 520–510 B.C.
Place of Manufacture: Greece, Attica, Athens
Medium/Technique
Ceramic, Black Figure
Dimensions
Height: 16 cm (6 5/16 in.); diameter: 22 cm (8 11/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of the heirs of Henry Adams
Accession Number20.18
CollectionsAncient Greece and Rome
ClassificationsVessels
DescriptionThe vase has a frieze in the later black figure style, apparently with chorus scenes from early Attic comedies.
Side A: Six warriors riding on dolphins, to right, towards a man playing a flute.
Side B: Six youths riding upon ostriches, to right, towards a man playing a flute. In front of him, facing the others, is a bearded Pygmy. Repaired and painted over.
The presence of a flute-player in each scene suggests that the dolphin and ostrich-riders are chorusmen in theatrical comedies, which often featured choruses of men dressed in outlandish costumes, such as wasps or frogs. Dolphin-riders appear elsewhere in Greek art, especially on the coinage of Taras, in southern Italy.
Side A: Six warriors riding on dolphins, to right, towards a man playing a flute.
Side B: Six youths riding upon ostriches, to right, towards a man playing a flute. In front of him, facing the others, is a bearded Pygmy. Repaired and painted over.
The presence of a flute-player in each scene suggests that the dolphin and ostrich-riders are chorusmen in theatrical comedies, which often featured choruses of men dressed in outlandish costumes, such as wasps or frogs. Dolphin-riders appear elsewhere in Greek art, especially on the coinage of Taras, in southern Italy.
ProvenanceSaid to have been in the Mongelli Collection; by 1890: Henry Adams Collection (loaned to MFA, December 19, 1890, as L. 1505); gift of the Heirs of Henry Adams to MFA, January 1, 1920