Kylix depicting athletic combats by Onesimos facts for kids
This special drinking cup, called a kylix, shows exciting athletic fights. It was made around 490 B.C. in Attica, a region in ancient Greece. Today, you can see it at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
The artist, named Onesimos, decorated the cup using a style called red-figure technique. This painting method was invented in Athens around 530 B.C. It quickly became very popular for decorating pottery. Artists liked the red-figure style because it helped them show details like clothes, feelings, and body shapes. This was perfect for painters like Onesimos, who often drew athletic events.
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Meet Onesimos, the Vase Painter
Onesimos was a talented artist who worked in Athens from 500 to 480 B.C. His name means "profitable," and some people think it might have been a nickname. We know his name because it was found on a cup, along with the signature of a potter named Euphronios.
Onesimos mostly painted cups. He was known for making very realistic pictures of the human body. He loved to show people in action, especially during sports and other active moments.
What the Kylix Shows
The outside of this kylix shows two different ancient Greek sports: the pancration and boxing.
The Pancration Scene
The pancration was a very popular sport in Ancient Greece. It was added to the Olympic Games in 648 B.C. The word "pancration" comes from "pan" (meaning all) and "kratos" (meaning strength or power). It was a type of ancient martial art that mixed both wrestling and boxing.
Onesimos's painting shows two young boys wrestling. You can tell they are young because they don't have beards. Two trainers are watching them. One trainer is standing, and the other is sitting next to a column. This column seems to be holding a prize, maybe a cauldron. Another young boy is standing next to the standing trainer. Scenes of the pancration were common on red-figure pots that showed sports. For example, the Foundry Painter also created a pancration scene.
The Boxing Scene
The other sport shown on the kylix is boxing. Here, two more young boys are boxing. They also don't have facial hair. The boy on the left is facing forward, looking at you. A trainer with a staff is watching them from the left. Another young boy is on the right, observing the match. This boy seems to be measuring the space, and he looks a lot like the boy watching in the pancration scene.
In the background of the boxing scene, you can see different items used in sports. There are two mattocks (tools for digging), a bag for a discus (a heavy disc thrown in sports), and jumping weights.
The Inside Picture
The tondo, which is the inside bottom of the kylix, has a picture of a young man holding a hare (a type of rabbit). His face is looking straight at you. He is wearing a himation, which is a cloak, draped over his shoulders. In the background, you can see a walking stick.
Hidden Messages and Names
This kylix has several inscriptions, which are writings on the pot.
"Handsome" Inscriptions
On the pancration scene, there is one inscription that says "Panaitios kalos." This means "Panaitios is handsome." Onesimos often used the name Panaitios in his kalos inscriptions. For a while, people thought there was a different artist called the "Panaitios Painter" who worked before Onesimos. However, it is now believed that the Panaitios Painter and Onesimos are the same person.
In the boxing scene, there are two inscriptions. One says "Lukos kalos," meaning "Lykos is handsome." The other inscription is on the discus bag and simply says "Kalos," which means "handsome." The last inscription is inside the cup, in the tondo. It reads "Ho pais kalos," meaning "The boy is handsome."
Kylixes and Ancient Greek Sports Training
Greek kylixes and other pottery often showed activities like athletic training. These were popular with the people who used the cups, especially the wealthy.
Drinking Parties and Social Life
Kylixes were often used at symposiums. These were special drinking parties for men only. Symposiums were a very important part of Greek culture. Only the most important people in society were allowed to attend. These parties were held in private homes. Men would gather to drink, eat, sing, and talk about many things, like philosophy and politics. The only women allowed were high-class entertainers. Symposiums helped to strengthen the friendships and status of the wealthy men.
The Importance of Physical Training
Athletic events were also a big part of Greek culture. Ancient Greeks believed it was important to train their bodies as much as their minds. Young men from wealthy families would train with athletic coaches at a palaestra, which was a wrestling school. These training sessions were a key way for young people to socialize and learn important skills in society.
