Exekias
Kylix
Vase: Kylix
Potter & Painter: Exekias signed
Date: 535 B.C.
Diameter: 30.5 cm
Subjects
Interior: Dionysus
Exterior: pair of apotropaic eyes
Exterior under handles:
Hoplites fight over bodies of fallen.
Foot signed by Exekias
Kylix
• Cup for wine drinking
• Exekias introduced new shape is so called
‘A type’ which has a shallow bowl with
plain lip and a splaying foot offset from the
bowl.
• 2 horizontal handles placed symmetrically
around the cup
• Interior is a tondo shape
Interior decoration
Shows Dionysus reclining on his
symposium boat, surrounded by dolphins.
The bow of his boat is shaped like a
stylized boar and the stern is shaped like
a swan
The field is painted in coral red
(innovation), forming a seamless
background encompassing both sea and
sky which fills the whole interior of the cup
rather than being confined to a central
tondo. The composition is unusually well
suited to the circular field of the vase
• holding a keras or rhyton (drinking horn) in
his right hand
Based on Homer’s ‘Hymn
to Dionysos’
Dionysus was kidnapped
on the way to Greece by
pirates.
He revealed his divine
persona by turning the
mast into a vine which grow
vines which produced
grapes, as Dionysus is the
god of wine.
The terrified pirates jumped
overboard and turned into
dolphins.
Exterior Decoration
• 2 pairs of apotropaic eyes painted in black
and purple w/ exaggerated tear ducts and
stylized nose.
• Eyes thought to be magical; When you tip
the cup and drink out of it, even though
your eyes are hidden, the apotropaic eyes
can see for you
Exterior Decoration
Warriors wear
corinthian
helmets
Warrior still has
his armour
Warrior has
been stripped of
his armour, the
prize of the
victors
Innovations
• Exekias added a lot of purple to the eyes,
warriors, grapes as detail(much of this has
rubbed off).
• Whole interior painted as opposed to only
a small central medallion
• Red Ochre colour, also called
“international red”, was revolutionary
• Black glaze layered in places to give
decoration depth.
Underneath Decoration
• Concentric bands in black and purple
• Stylized rays
• Signed EXEKIAS EPOIESE
= EXEKIAS MADE [ME]