Terracotta pelike (wine jar)
Obverse, battle between Arimaspeans and griffins
Reverse, three youths conversing
The Greek historian Herodotus described a legendary race of one-eyed men living in the far north who were in constant battle with the griffins guarding hoards of gold. The men were called Arimaspeans by the nomadic Scythians who dominated the steppes north of the Black Sea, and also by the Greeks.
The subject matter is appropriate indeed for a group of fourth century Attic vases that were found in considerable quantity in southern Russia, specifically Kerch, whence that name, which is often used for them.
Reverse, three youths conversing
The Greek historian Herodotus described a legendary race of one-eyed men living in the far north who were in constant battle with the griffins guarding hoards of gold. The men were called Arimaspeans by the nomadic Scythians who dominated the steppes north of the Black Sea, and also by the Greeks.
The subject matter is appropriate indeed for a group of fourth century Attic vases that were found in considerable quantity in southern Russia, specifically Kerch, whence that name, which is often used for them.
Artwork Details
- Title: Terracotta pelike (wine jar)
- Artist: Attributed to the Painter of Munich 2365
- Period: Late Classical
- Date: ca. 375–350 BCE
- Culture: Greek, Attic
- Medium: Terracotta; red-figure
- Dimensions: H. 11 in. (28 cm)
- Classification: Vases
- Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1906
- Object Number: 06.1021.179
- Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Greek, South Italian, Campanian
4th century BCE
Greek, Attic
late 10th–early 9th century BCE
Greek, Attic
mid-4th century BCE
Greek, Attic
late 6th century BCE
Princeton Group
ca. 540–530 BCE
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.