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Terracotta calyx-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)

Attributed to a painter of the Group of Polygnotos
ca. 440–430 BCE
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 159
Obverse, Theseus seizing the bull of Marathon
Reverse, three youths

When Theseus made his way from Troizen to Attica, he performed a number of feats, including the capture of a bull that had been ravaging the region around Marathon; he sacrificed the bull to Apollo. Here the two protagonists move gracefully in unison, much like their counterparts on the south frieze of the Parthenon.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Terracotta calyx-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)
  • Artist: Attributed to a painter of the Group of Polygnotos
  • Period: Classical
  • Date: ca. 440–430 BCE
  • Culture: Greek, Attic
  • Medium: Terracotta; red-figure
  • Dimensions: H. 14 3/4 in. (37.5 cm)
    diameter of mouth 14 9/16 in. (37 cm)
    diameter of foot 6 9/16 in. (16.7 cm)
  • Classification: Vases
  • Credit Line: Fletcher Fund, 1956
  • Object Number: 56.171.48
  • Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

More Artwork

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Terracotta sherd from a loutrophoros, Group of Polygnotos, Terracotta, Greek, Attic
Terracotta sherd from a loutrophoros
Group of Polygnotos
ca. 440 BCE
Calyx-krater, fragment
Group of Polygnotos
ca. 420 BCE
Calyx-krater, fragment
Group of Polygnotos
ca. 420 BCE
Terracotta stamnos (jar), Group of Polygnotos, Terracotta, Greek, Attic
Terracotta stamnos (jar)
Group of Polygnotos
ca. 440 BCE
Fragmentary terracotta loutrophoros (ceremonial vase for water), Group of Polygnotos, Terracotta, Greek, Attic
Fragmentary terracotta loutrophoros (ceremonial vase for water)
Group of Polygnotos
ca. 440 BCE

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