Amasis and the Amasis Painter

Ἄμασις

A potter and a vase painter of the black-figure style, working in Athens around 560-515 BC.

Amasis signed his name as potter (maker): Ἄμασις μέποίησεν (Amasis m'epoiesen, Amasis made me). Of the 12 or perhaps 13 vessels and fragments found so far with this signature 11 were decorated by the painter who has been named the Amasis Painter. No work signed by the artist as painter has yet been discovered.

Some scholars have considered the potter and painter to be the same person. However, this theory was challenged when in 1971 J. Frel attributed the painted decoration on a shoulder type lekythos signed by Amasis as potter to the Taleides Painter. J. Paul Getty Museum, Malibu. Inv. No. 76. AE.48. Height 23 cm.

Two vases thought to have been painted by Lydos have been attributed to Amasis as potter: a psykter-amphora in the British Museum, Vase No. B 148; a panel-amphora of type B in the Cabinet des Medailles, Paris.

Amasis was the Hellenized form of the common ancient Egyptian name Ahmosis (perhaps pronounced A-ames). It has thus been conjectured that he was born or had previously lived in Egypt, possibly from a Greek or mixed Greek-Egyptian family, perhaps living in Naukratis (a Greek trading post in the Nile Delta). Although he was born too early to have been named after Pharoah Ahmosis II, who ruled 569/568-526 BC (mentioned by Herodotus, particularly Book 2, chapter 161 onwards), his signature appears only on works from the middle - late periods of his career (after 550 BC), and he may have adopted Amasis as a tradename or nickname after he had established his reputation.

What is believed to be the earliest signature of Amasis, on a fragmentary band-cup, is dated around 550 BC. The painting is attributed to the Amasis Painter. J. Paul Getty Museum, Malibu. Inv. No. 79. AE.197.

A black-figure neck amphora, painted by Exekias, circa 540-535 BC. On Side A, Achilles killing the Amazon queen Penthesileia. On Side B, Memnon, bearded and fully armed, facing right, flanked by two black African attendants. Inscribed above one, behind (left of) Memnon's head, έπ]οίησ(ε)ν (?); above the other, in front of Memnon's head, AMAΣIΣ (Αμασις). Scholars remain uncertain whether the inscription is the signature of Amasis as potter, or Exekias making a humorous comment on his name or nickname, possible "dusky" appearance or foreign origin. Height 41.5 cm, width 30 cm, weight 3.6 kg. British Museum. Inv. No. GR 1849.5-18.10 (Vase B209).

The name AMAΣΟΣ (Amasos) also appears above a similar black African warrior being attacked by Menelaos on a fragmentary panel amphora painted by Exekias, circa 530 BC. University Museum, Philadelphia. Inv. No. MS 3442.

It has been suggested that Amasis may have introduced the alabastron (oil or perfume vessel), originally an Egyptian form, to Attica.

He is also thought to be the father of the potter Kleophrades whose siganture ΚΛΕΟΦΡΑΔΕΣ: ΕΠΟΙΕΣΕΝ: ΑΜΑΣΙΔΟΣ (Kleophrades made it, son of Amasis) apears on the profile of the foot of a fragmentary cup now in the J. Paul Getty Museum, Malibu. Inv. No. 83.AE.217. The inside of the cup is signed by Douris (ΔΟΡΙΣ, see below) as painter. Fragmentary signatures by Kleophrades as potter are also known from vases and fragments in other museums. As with the Amasis Painter, the Kleophrades Painter, around 115 of whose red-figure works have survived, has been associated with Kleophrades the potter.

The Amasis Painter is considered, along with Exekias and Lydos, one of the most important and influentual Attic black-figure artists, and like Lydos he was a prolific craftsman who had a long career.

He may have been a pupil of the Heidelberg Painter (working around 575-550 BC), since some of what are considered to be his early works are similar in style, although he was also influenced in style and subject matter by other painters such as Kleitias, Lydos and Nearchos.

Around 132 vases and fragments have been securely attributed to the Amasis Painter, with a number of others considered uncertain. Two have not been seen for over 150 years; others went missing, perhaps destroyed, during World War II. It is not known whether all the vases painted by him were made by the same potter.

His works were exported all around the Greek world, and have been found on the Greek mainland and islands, Thrace (Kavala), Cyprus, Egypt (Naukratis), Sicily, southern Italy, as well as Etruria, and even south Russia (Berezan).

He painted a wide variety of vessels, including panel and neck amphorae, oinochoai (wine jugs), lekythoi (oil jars) and cups, but not larger vases such as kraters or hydriae. His subjects included narrative mythological scenes, non-narrative depictions of gods (particularly Poseidon and Athena) and mortals, Dionysus and his thiasos (entourage) and several genre scenes.

An olpe (wine jug) with a depiction of Perseus decapitating Medusa, watched by Hermes. Found 1828/1829 in Vulci, Etruria, Italy, the first vase to be discovered with the signature of Amasis as potter, Aμασίς μ’ έποίησεν (Amasis m'epoiesen, Amasis made me). The painting was thus attributed to the Amasis Painter by John Beazley. British Museum, London. Inv. No. 1849,0620.5 (Vase B 471). Height 25.77 cm.

A skyphos from Rhodes, Dionysus and Ariadne with satyrs flanked by two youths (see photo below). Rhodes Archaeological Museum.

A shoulder type lekythos found in Kerameikos, Athens, with a depiction of wrestlers (see photo below). Kerameikos Archaeological Museum. Inv. No. 25829.

An olpe, circa 540 BC, with a depiction of Herakles entering Olympus with Athena and Hermes, greeted by Poseidon (rather than Zeus). Signed Ἄμασις μέποίησεν (Amasis m'epoiesen, Amasis made me). Height 26.4 cm, diameter 13.5 cm. Louvre Museum, Paris. Inv. No. F 30.

A cup from Vulci. Side A, a fight scene between warriors and horseman between palmettes and other devices, a cock, a star and a bee. Side B, with Dionysus and Ariadne, flanked by a Maenad and a Satyr. Louvre. Inv. No. F 75.

A neck amphora from Vulci. On Side A depiction of Athena and Poseidon. On Side B Dionysus and two Maenads (see image below). Signed Ἄμασις μέποίησεν (Amasis made me) on both sides. Shoulder, Sides A and B, battle scene. Height 33 cm. Cabinet des Médailles, Paris. Inv. No. 222.

A lekythos from Vari, with women weaving. Height 17.2 cm. Metropolitan Museum, New York. Inv. No. 31.11.10.

A lekythos with a wedding procession. Height 17.1 cm. Metropolitan Museum, New York. Inv. No. 56.11.1.

A fragment of a black-figure amphora, around 540-530 BC, with a depiction of the lower part of a draped male with a spear or trident, and part of a leg with a greave. Signed Ἄμασις μέποίησεν. Metropolitan Museum, New York. Inv. No. 1985.11.2.

A fragment of a black-figure amphora, around 540-530 BC, with a depiction of the lower part of a draped male with a spear or trident, and part of a leg with a greave. Signed Ἄμασις μέποίησεν. Metropolitan Museum, New York. Inv. No. 1985.11.2.

An alabastron from the Athens Agora, with a female winged deity, perhaps Nike, between youths. Height 9.2 cm. Agora Museum, Athens. Inv. No. P 12628.

A fragmentary neck amphora from Orvieto. On Side A Poseidon(?) and Athena. On Side B two warriors. Under each handle Dionysus, looking back. Signed Ἄμασις μέποίησεν on both sides. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Inv. No. 01.8026.

A neck amphora from Orvieto. On Side A Apollo and Herakles struggling for the Delphic Tripod, signed Ἄμασις μέποίησεν. On Side B Achilles receiving from Thetis the armour made by Hephaistos. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Inv. No. 01.8027.

A kylix, on one side with two Satyrs masturbating, and on the other a Siren with a body in the form of a large eye. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Inv. No. 10.651.

A fragmentary black-figure eye cup. Inside, a Gorgoneion. Between the eyes: Side A a bearded komast; Side B a woman (hetaera) holding a lyre. Signed Ἄμασις μέποίησεν on both sides. Vatican Museums, rome. Inv. No. 369a.+.

A cup from Vulci, with horses and grooms in the divine stables. Schimmel Collection, Kings Point.

In 1985 the Amasis Painter was given the first "one man show" - or exhibition of works by a single artist - ever organized for an ancient Greek vase painter. 65 of his 132 known surviving works were brought together from museums and collections around the world. The exhibition was curated by Dr. Dietrich von Bothmer, at the time Chairman of the Department of Greek and Roman Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, who proposed that it should open on 13th September 1985, the centenary of the birth of the art historian Sir John Beazley (1885-1970).

After its run in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 13 September - 27 October 1985, the exhibition moved to the Toledo Museum of Art, Ohio, 24 November 24 - 5 January 1986, then the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 20 February - 6 April 1986.

The exhibition catalogue: Dietrich von Bothmer, The Amasis Painter and his world: Vase-painting in sixth-century B.C. Athens. Co-published by J. Paul Getty Museum, Malibu, California and Thames and Hudson, New York / London, 1985. Free PDF at Getty Publications Virtual Library.

Andokides Painter

Red-figure vase painter, working in Athens around 530-500 BC.

He was named by John Beazley after the potter Andokides (Ἀνδοκίδης), whose signature is on five vases with paintings attributed to this artist.

He is thought to have been a pupil of Exekias, and with Psiax is among those credited with the invention of the red-figure painting technique around 530 BC. He may have also invented the white ground technique.

Paintings on 14 amphorae and 2 cups are attributed to the Andokides Painter, of which 6 belly amphorae and one cup are "bilingual", i.e. painted with both red-figure and black-figure scenes.

The question of whether the paintings were by one or two artists has been long debated. John Beazley attributed the black-figure scenes to a separate artist he named the Lysippides Painter. On the other hand, John Boardman later wrote, "So the Andokides Painter did paint black figure and it is difficult to escape the conclusion that he and the Lysippides Painter are one and the same." (John Boardman, Athenian black figure vases, page 105. Thames and Hudson, London, 1974 [reprint, 1997].) More recent studies of drawing styles and techniques suggest that the paintings are by two separate personalities.

Attributed works signed by Andokides as potter:

Red-figure belly amphora, circa 525 BC. Side A, Herakles and Apollo struggle for the Delphic tripod. Side B, wrestlers. H. 58.2 cm. Berlin State Museums (SMB). Inv. No. F 2159.

Red-figure belly amphora with black-figure painting on the lip, attributed to Psiax. Side A, Herakles and Apollo struggle for the Delphic tripod. Side B, Dionysus between Maenad and Satyr. Metropolitan Museum, New York. Inv. No. 63.11.6.

Red-figure belly amphora, circa 530-520 BC. Side A, Amazons; Side B, Bathing women. Height 40.5 cm. Louvre, Paris. Inv. No. F 203.

Belly amphora, circa 525-520 BC. Side A, warriors fighting between Athena and Hermes. Side B, youth with kithara. Height 57.2 cm. Louvre, Paris. Inv. No. G 1.

Attributed bilingual vases with the Lysippides Painter include:

Bilingual belly amphora, circa 520-500 BC. Side A, black-figure, Achilles and Ajax playing a board game. Side B, red-figure, Herakles fighting the Nemean Lion (see photo below). Height 54.6 cm. British Museum. GR 1839.11-9.2 (Vase B 193).

Bilingual neck amphora, circa 520-500 BC. Side A, black-figure, Achilles and Ajax playing a board game (see Homer part 2). Side B, red-figure, Herakles fighting the Nemean Lion. British Museum. GR 1851.8-6.15 (Vase B 211).

Bilingual belly amphora. Side A, black-figure, Herakles and the Nemean Lion. Side B, red-figure, Dionysus and Maenad between Satyrs. Museo Civico, Bologna. Inv. No. 151.

Bilingual belly amphora, circa 520-510 BC. Side A, black-figure, Herakles feasting. Side B, red-figure, Herakles feasting. Height 53.5 cm. Staatliche Antikensammlungen, Munich. Inv. No. 2301.

Bilingual belly amphora, circa 530-520 BC. Side A, red-figure, Herakles and Kerberos. Side B, black-figure, Dionysos with kantharos between Maenads and Satyrs. Height 58.2 cm. Louvre, Paris. Inv. No. F 204.

Bilingual belly amphora. Side A and Side B, Achilles and Ajax playing a board game. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Inv. No. 01.8037.

Antimenes Painter

Black-figure vase painter in Athens, active around 530-510 BC.

His black-figure work is stylistically close to that of Psiax, who worked for the same workshop.

He is named after a kalos inscription, "Antimenes kalos", on a hydria (ὑδρία, water-carrying vessel with three handles) in the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, Leiden. Inv. No. PC 63.

An Attic black-figure neck amphora, around 520 BC, attributed to the Antimenes Painter: Side A, Dionysus mask between two large eyes; Side B, a similar mask of a satyr between two large eyes. Berlin State Museums (SMB). Inv. No. F 3997.

A large fragmentary Attic black-figure dinos, late 6th century BC, attributed to the Antimenes Painter. Found in the Heraion at the mouth of the river Sele, Paestum, southern Italy. Paestum Archaeological Museum.

Aristonothos

Ἀριστόνοθος

Vase painter and/or potter of the Late Geometric style, perhaps from Euboea, active around the mid 7th century BC.

The earliest known potter and/or painter.

"The Aristonothos Krater" (see images below) is the only vase so far attributed to Aristonothos. The Late Geometric krater, found in the 19th century in a tomb at the Etruscan city Caere (today Cerveteri), has been dated variously to around 680-630 BC.

One side is decorated with a depiction of Odysseus blinding Polyphemos, and is inscribed with the earliest signature by a Greek painter or potter Ἀριστόνοθος ἐποίσεν (Aristonothos epoiesen, Aristonothos made it), thought to be written in the Ionic script of Euboea, although readings of the inscription differ. It is not known whether the signature refers to the potter or painter, nor whether the krater was produced in Greece or Italy. The name has also been interprested as Aristonophos, Aristonoos and Ariston of Kos.

Asteas (or Assteas)

Αστεας or Ασστεας

A prolific red-figure vase painter and workshop owner (or manager) in Poseidonia (Paestum), Campania, Magna Graecia (southern Italy), active around 350-320 BC.

Along with Python, considered the two leading painters in Paestum around 365-320 BC. During this period their workshop dominated Paestan vase painting. They signed some of their works, the only two vase painters in Magna Graecia to do so.

Over 1000 vases have been attributed to the workshop of Asteas and Python, many of them by other artists. More than half of them of them are small vessels, mostly decorated with single figures, a female head, or animals and birds. Works by Asteas and Python are only easily distinguished on larger, more elaborate vases (hydriai and kraters) and signed works. Both painted mythological and theatrical scenes.

Berlin Painter

Red-figure vase painter in Athens,
active around 505-460 BC.

Admired for his refined, elegant style, he is considered as one of the finest vase painters of the early 5th century BC, alongside the Kleophrades Painter. He is credited as the creator of over 300 works.

He began career in the workshop of the Pioneer Group (the Dikaios Painter, Euphronios, Euthymides, Hypsias, Phintias, Smikros and the Sosias Painter), which adopted the red-figure technique developed by earlier painters such as Andokides and Psiax.

He was the teacher of the Achilles Painter and Hermonax.

None of the Berlin Painter's works are signed. He was named by John Beazley after a large lidded red-figure amphora (his name vase) in the Berlin State Museums (SMB). Inv. No. F 2160. Side A shows a satyr, Hermes and a fawn. Side B shows a satyr.

He began his career working in the Late Archaic style, and made a number of black-figure Panathenaic amphorae. He was one of the vase painters who developed the Classical Attic red-figure style.

Boreas Painter

Red-figure vase painter in Athens,
active around 470-460 BC.

Named the Boreas Painter by Sir John Beazley due to a number of vases attributed to him depicting Boreas (god of the North Wind). A number of other vase paintings, mostly on kraters, have been attributed to him on the basis of style. His style is close to that of the Florence Painter and the Painter of London E489.

An Attic red-figure column krater found in Akragas (Agrigento), Sicily, depicting a a god chasing a female, possibly Plouton (Hades) and Persephone, or Zeus and a maiden, has been attributed to the Boreas Painter. The other side shows a female figure with a torch. Around 470-460 BC. Antonino Salinas Regional Archaeological Museum, Palermo. Inv. No. V795.

Brygos

Βρύγος

Potter, and perhaps painter, in Athens, active around 500-450 BC.

Thought to be from western Macedonia, based on the letter-forms of his signature.

Brygos was named by Sir John Beazley after the signature Βρυγος εποιεσεν (Brygos epoiesen, Brygos made it) on a number of Attic red-figure vases.

His workshop produced high quality wares, mostly drinking cups, but also other types of vessels such as rhytons (drinking horns) in the shape of animal heads.

Brygos Painter

Red-figure vase painter, and perhaps potter, in Athens, active around 500-450 BC. Thought to have been particularly active around 480-470 BC.

Perhaps a pupil of Onesimos, with whom his works have been compared.

Thought to have worked in the workshop of the potter Brygos, he was named by Sir John Beazley after the signature Βρυγος εποιεσεν (Brygos epoiesen, Brygos made it) on a number of Attic red-figure vases with paintings attributed to the same artist. The signature is thought to be that of Brygos as potter, but some scholars believe that the potter and painter may have been the same person.

The Brygos Painter is considered, along with Douris (see below), Makron and Onesimos, one of the finest and most influential vase painters of the period. He was prolific, and over 200 vessels have been attributed to him, several signed by Brygos. Most of the surviving paintings are on kylikes (types B and C), but he also painted skyphoi, kantharoi, rhyta and lekythoi, as well as some white-ground vases.

A burnt fragment of a plate with a depiction of a reveller, attributed to the Brygos Painter, was found by archaeologists on the Athens Acropolis among the "Perserschutt", deposits of rubble from the Persian destruction of 480 BC. This has been taken as evidence that he was working before this date. His works have also been discovered at other archaeological sites in Greece and Italy.

He painted mythological scenes, particularly Homeric themes and Achilles, as well as genre scenes, including symposia and athletes. The depictions are innovative in style and technique, and he often experimented with spatial effects, settings and washes. His drawing style is elegant, usually with fine, clear contours, and he has been praised for the poses and details of his figures, particularly the well-observed, expressive faces, and the lively interaction between characters. In some cases the names of the characters are inscribed.

He is also credited with a painting of Alkaios and Sappho on an Attic red-figure kalathos (wine mixing vessel), dated around 470 BC, now in the Glyptothek, Munich (see photos below).

Some paintings thought to be his later works are considered to be of poorer quality. Beazley commented that a painting on a kylix now in Milan (see photo below) was "late and especially poor", although other scholars consider even his poorer work was superior to that of many of his contemporaries.

Choregos Painter

Red-figure vase painter in Apulia, Magna Graecia (southern Italy), perhaps in Metapontion (Μεταπόντιον) on the gulf of Tarentum, active around 400-370 BC.

The few vase paintings attributed to the Choregos Painter depict theatrical scenes. Named by Arthur Dale Trendall (1909-1995) after "the Choregos vase" (or "the Choregoi vase"), an Apulian red-figure bell krater, 400-380 BC, with a scene from a Phlyax play depicting Aegisthos, two choregoi and Pyrrhias. Formerly in the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles. Inv. No. 96.AE.29. Returned to Italy in accordance with agreements of 2007 concerning looted artworks.

"The Krater of the Gluttons" (Italian, "il Cratere dei Ghiottoni") is also known as "the Milan Cake-eaters", "the Stealers of dainties" and "the Eaters of dainties". The painting on Side A depicts a scene from a Phlyax play (Φλύαξ, also Phlyakes, Gossip Players), a type of burlesque or farce developed during the 4th century BC in the Greek colonies in Magna Graecia (southern Italy). Only some titles and a few fragments of the plays have survived, as well as the names of five of the genre's playwrights. Paintings on several surviving vases from southern Italy are thought to represent scenes from such plays. They appear to show mythological figures and stock characters and situations of the Attic New Comedy.

Christie Painter

Red-figure vase painter in Athens, active around 450-420 BC.

Cock Group

(Gruppo del Gallo)

A group of black-figure vase painters working in Athens around 525-501 BC.

Darius Painter

Vase painter of the red-figure technique, in Apulia, southeast Italy, active around 340-320 BC.

Considered one of the greatest and most prolific Apulian vase painters. He may have been the owner or foreman of a large workshop, perhaps at Taras (Taranto) or Canosa (Canosa di Puglia), Apulia, southeast Italy. It has recently been suggested that he and other contemporary vase painters may have worked elsewhere, perhaps in Lucania (Basilicata).

He was named by Arthur Dale Trendall (1909-1995) after the "Darius vase" (his name vase, also known as the "Persian vase"), a large volute krater (height 130 cm, diameter 60 cm) discovered in 1851 near Canosa di Puglia. Now in the National Archaeological Museum, Naples. Inv. No. 81947 (H 3253).

None of his works are signed, but many feature inscriptions with the names of historical and mythical figures and subjects depicted in scenes taken from history, myths and the Classical theatre, particularly the tragedies of Euripides. Some paintings show scenes not known from other surviving artworks. He mostly painted large vases, including volute kraters, amphorae and loutrophoroi. He also painted Dionysian motifs, erotes, wedding scenes and women, particularly on pelikes. His draughtsmanship and compositions are bold and colourful, although not usually very dramatic. On the larger vases, a number of scenes are depicted on several registers.

A large number of works attributed to the Darius Painter are now in collections and museums around the world.

Diphilos

Δίφιλος

The owner of a pottery workshop in Myrina, Mysia (northwestern Anatolia), known from several signed terracotta figurines.

Late 1st century BC - early 1st century AD

Dodwell Painter

Black-figure vase painter in Corinth,
active around 600-570 BC

One of the most important and influential vase painters of the Middle and Late Corinthian periods (circa 600-550 BC).

He painted friezes of animals, horsemen and mythological figures, mainly on oinochoai and pyxides, but also on neck amphorae and hydriai.

Around 70 vases have been attributed to the Dodwell Painter. He is named after the "Dodwell Pyxis", an inscribed Middle Corinthian convex pyxis, around 590 BC, once owned by the Irish writer and painter Edward Dodwell (1767-1832), who purchased it in 1806 near Corinth, and kept it in his private museum of antiquities in Rome. It was later purchased with other objects from Dodwell's collection on behalf of Ludwig I of Bavaria, and is now in the Staatliche Antikensammlungen, Munich. Inv. No. 47.

On the lid of the pyxis is a depiction of the Kalydonian Boar hunt as well as other unconnected mythological figures, including Agamemnon. The figures are named by inscriptions, although not all appear to match the respective figure.

Other significant examples of his work include an olpe (jug) in the National Etruscan Museum, Villa Giulia, Rome, with a frieze depicting komasts dacing around a krater, and vases in the Saint Louis Art Museum, Inv. No. 174.1924, and the Martin von Wagner Museum, University of Würzburg, Inv. No. L 120.

The olpe is painted with three friezes in horizontal bands (see photo right). The top band shows dancers wearing padded costumes in erotic scenes. In the middle Herakles and Iolaos fight the Lernaian Hydra, watched by Athena. In the bottom band is a frieze of animals. Spaces around all the figures are filled by rosettes of different sizes.

Dolon Painter

Red-figure vase painter in Lucania (Basilicata), southeast Italy, active around 390-380 BC.

He was part of the second generation of vase painters in the workshop at Metapontion (Μεταπόντιον) on the gulf of Tarentum, established by the Pisticci Painter and the Amykos Painter. His work was close to that of Apulian vase painters of the "Plain" style, and particularly close to the Tarporley Painter, with whom he may have worked.

He was named by Arthur Dale Trendall (1909-1995) after a red-figure calyx krater, circa 390-380 BC, depicting Odysseus and Diomedes ambushing the Trojan spy Dolon (his name vase). British Museum. GR 1846.9-25.3 (Vase F157).

A ceramic rhyton (drinking horn)
from the cemetery of Kallithea,
Boeotia, central Greece.

14th century BC.

A large Archaic relief pithos from Rhodes, crudely decorated around the neck and shoulder
with stamped areas and bands of repeated abstract geometric motifs and rows of figures,
alternately a Centaur and male figure holding a double axe and a lightning bolt, thought
to represent Zeus Labraundos (Ζευς Λαβραυνδος or Λαβρανδευς).

6th century BC. Found in the necropolis at Macri Langoni near the ancient city
of Kamiros, western Rhodes. It had been used for the burial of a child.

Rhodes Archaeological Museum.

Currently (2022) part of the extended exhibition "Ancient Rhodes - 2400 years"
in the Palace of the Grand Master, Rhodes.

A Rhodian aryballos (ἀρύβαλλος, small
globular flask for perfume, ointment or oil)
in the form of the head of a helmeted
warrior (often referred to as a hoplite).
This design type seems to have been
popular, and several such vases can
today be seen in the world's museums.

Late 7th - 6th century BC. Found along
with a large number of votive offerings in
a rural sanctuary in the Irakles (Herakles)
area of Psalidi, Kos, Dodecanese.

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