Kleophrades Painter Panathenaic prize amphora facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kleophrades terracotta Panathenaic prize amphora |
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The Kleophrades Panathenaic prize amphora
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| Material | Terracotta |
| Size | 63.5 centimetres (25.0 in) high |
The Kleophrades Panathenaic prize amphora is an ancient Greek vase. It was made around 500 BCE by an artist known as the Kleophrades Painter. This special vase is now kept at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
In ancient Greece, these amphoras were filled with olive oil. They were given as prizes to winners of the Panathenaia games in Athens. This specific amphora is a "neck amphora" and stands about 63.5 cm (25 inches) tall.
Contents
How the Amphora Was Made
The pictures on the Kleophrades amphora are made using a style called black-figure. This was a popular way to decorate pottery during the Archaic period. The background of the images looks red. This color comes from the clay itself when it is fired. No extra paint is added for the red parts.
Creating Black Figures
To make the black images, the artist, Kleophrades, painted the clay. He used a watery clay mixture before the vase was fired. Red details, like muscles or hair, were added by carving into this wet clay. He used a sharp tool for these fine lines.
The Firing Process
After painting, Kleophrades baked the clay vase in a special oven called a kiln. This process had several steps with different temperatures.
First, the kiln was heated to about 800°C (1472°F). Vents were kept open, letting in lots of oxygen. This made the whole vase turn red, even the painted parts.
Next, the vents were closed. Other materials were added to make the air inside the kiln have less oxygen. The kiln also got even hotter. This step made the painted clay turn black and shiny.
Finally, the potter opened the vents again. This let oxygen back into the kiln and the temperature dropped. The parts of the vase that were not painted turned back to their natural red color. Most of the black-figure art on this amphora shows Athena Promachos and the Pankration. The artist also added small, patterned designs near the neck and base of the vase.
What the Images Show
Like all Panathenaic prize amphoras, this vase shows a picture of Athena Promachos. She was the goddess of wisdom and warfare. In this image, Athena is leading soldiers into battle. She holds a spear in one hand and a shield in the other. She also wears a helmet on her head.
The Inscription
On the left side of the Athena Promachos image, there is writing. It says "ton Athenethen athlon." This means "a prize from Athens." This phrase was found on all Panathenaic prize amphoras, just like the image of Athena.
The Pankration Scene
The other side of the amphora shows the Pankration. This was a type of ancient Greek combat sport. It combined parts of kickboxing and wrestling. The Pankration scene on this vase is special. It shows both the athletes fighting and a judge watching them. Art experts think the judge is there to show how dangerous the sport was. It did not have many rules.
Both sides of the amphora have one main picture area. Most of the rest of the vase is painted black. It has red details around the neck and base.
The Artist: Kleophrades
Kleophrades made more vases with red-figure painting than black-figure. However, he did paint several Panathenaic prize amphoras, and all of these were in black-figure style. So, this technique was not new to him.
Kleophrades was famous for making his figures show strong feelings. He wanted viewers to feel emotions when they saw his art. The exciting Pankration scene on this amphora is a great example. It shows how active and risky the sport was. Many of his artworks featured characters from Greek myths and scenes from sporting events. This prize amphora combines two of his favorite subjects: Athena Promachos and the Panathenaic Pankration.
