Dipylon Amphora facts for kids
The Dipylon Amphora (also called Athens 804) is a very large ancient Greek vase. It was made around 750 BC. Today, you can see it at the National Archaeological Museum, Athens.
This special vase was found in a cemetery called Dipylon. It belongs to a time in art history known as the Geometric period. The artist who made it is unknown, but experts call him the Dipylon Master.
The amphora is covered in many patterns and geometric shapes. It also shows human figures and animals. The vase is very tall, about 1.55 meters (over 5 feet). It is also as wide as it is tall!
Every part of the vase is decorated. The artists used a method called the black-figure technique. This made the shapes look like dark outlines against the lighter clay.
The Dipylon Amphora was used for funerals. It marked the grave of an important woman. The vase shows her funeral procession. Her family and friends are shown mourning around her. The many details and animal designs show how important she was.
Quick facts for kids The Dipylon Amphora |
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| Artist | Dipylon Master |
| Year | 760–750 BC |
| Catalogue | Athens 804 |
| Type | Sculpture |
| Medium | Clay and slip |
| Location | National Archaeological Museum, Athens |
Contents
Finding the Dipylon Amphora
The Dipylon Amphora was found whole in an important burial site. This site was in the Dipylon cemetery. It was near the Dipylon Gate in Kerameikos. Kerameikos was an ancient area in Athens where potters worked.
The cemetery got its name from the "double gate" (Dipylon). This gate was a main entrance to the city.
What the Amphora Looks Like
The Dipylon Amphora was made on a potter's wheel. The artist made it in three big pieces. Then, these pieces were carefully joined together. The finished vase stands over five feet tall (1.55 meters).
The artist planned the vase to be as tall as it is wide. Its neck is also exactly half the length of its body. There is a small hole at the bottom. This hole allowed people to pour special liquids, called libations, for the dead. The vase also has small handles near its top.
The vase is covered in many different patterns. These patterns are what make it part of the Geometric style. You can see shapes like battlements, circles, and meanders (also known as key patterns).
The artist used light and dark colors to make these patterns. Many experts believe the Dipylon Master invented some of these patterns.
The Main Scene
The widest part of the vase is its belly, between the handles. This area was the most important for the main picture. Here, the clay is also the thinnest.
A rectangular panel on one side shows a funeral scene. It shows a dead woman lying on a bed, called a bier. A checkered cloth covers her body. People around her are shown as stylized mourners.
There are 39 human figures in total on the vase. They are both men and women. Six figures are under each handle. Eight more are on the back panel. A large group of 19 people are on the front panel.
The tall neck of the vase has bands of stylized deer and goats. The goats look like they are tucked in, with their heads turned back. This makes them look a bit like the meander patterns on the vase.
History of the Vase
Ancient Greek artists often got ideas from other cultures. But after the Mycenaean civilization ended around 1100 BC, things changed. The Greeks had less contact with other advanced empires.
Because of this, many artists started to use more Greek-style art. Crafts like basketry and weaving might have inspired the patterns on these vases. The Dipylon Master may have been one of the first to use these ideas in the Geometric style. His works are among the first Greek vases to show human figures again after the Mycenaean period.
Funeral Customs
The Dipylon Amphora shows us how wealthy people in Athens held funerals. It was found in a rich cemetery. Large vases like this one were placed upright over graves. They acted as grave markers. Some experts think they might have also been used to pour offerings for the dead.
Other experts believe the vase was mainly a memorial. It was a monument to remember the noblewoman.
In earlier times, Athenians would cremate (burn) the dead. Then, they would put the ashes in special vases. But later, burials became common again. The bodies were placed under the amphorae and kraters (another type of large vase). This is what happened with the Dipylon Amphora.
Who Was the Vase For?
The huge size of this funeral monument suggests the person buried was very important. It is believed to be a woman. This is because large amphorae were often used for women, while kraters were used for men.
Other items found in graves at the Dipylon cemetery also support this idea. These items belonged to wealthy women. They were found near and under these large amphorae. It is thought that this specific vase was made just for the dead woman shown on it.
The scene on the vase shows the woman's body on a bed. A checkered cloth covers her from head to foot. The cloth curves around her so people could still see her. The people around her are likely grieving friends and family. They are shown raising their hands to their heads. This was a common way to show deep sadness in ancient Greece.
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A close-up of the funeral scene.
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A close-up of the goats on the neck of the vase.
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See also
In Spanish: Ánfora de Dípilon para niños
