Krater (work of art)
Artwork Info
About
The sea god Poseidon (identified by the trident he carries) here pursues a young woman, Aithra. The daughter of a Peloponnesian ruler, she becomes the mother of Theseus, the legendary king and hero of Athens. On the other side, a young woman flees while looking over her shoulder, as if frightened by the scene on the other side.
Mythology and history connect in this vase. The Athenian fleet had played a vital role in the defeat of the eastern barbarians in the Persian Wars, so Poseidon, whose dominion was the sea, became a popular deity. This krater reflects the great interest in stories about the god.
tags: Ancient Greece, narrative, pattern, function, order, power
Images
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Krater by Attributed to the Syriskos Painter
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Syriskos2006_5
Credit
Purchased with funds from the Friends of Greek Art and with funds from April Axton and various donors, by exchange