What story is on Exekias black-figure amphora?
On Exekias’ amphora in the Vatican, the vase represents Achilles and Ajax playing a board game on one side. On the other side is a young man, Castor, with his horse, Kyllaros; other figures are his mother, Leda, his father, Tyndareus, and his twin brother, Pollux (Polydeuces).
Which is true about Exekias Achilles and Ajax?
Exekias, the most insightful black-figure artist, transforms the personal rivalry between the two Greek heroes of the Trojan War into a board game. Both Achilles and Ajax are heavily armed; Achilles still wears his helmet, and both hold their spears as if they may suddenly have to use them.
Where was the vessel Achilles and Ajax discovered?
It was found in Vulci, Italy but was manufactured most likely in the studio of a potter named Andokides in Greece 540-530CE.
Who is Achilles and Ajax?
Ajax is the son of Telamon, who was the son of Aeacus and grandson of Zeus, and his first wife Periboea. Through his uncle Peleus (Telamon’s brother), he is the cousin of Achilles, and is the elder half-brother of Teucer.
What was so unusual about Exekias vase painting?
John Boardman, the eminent historian of Greek art, described Exekias’ style as follows: “The hallmark of his style is a near statuesque dignity which brings vase painting for the first time close to claiming a place as a major art.” He was an innovative painter and potter, who experimented with new shapes and devised …
How many phases of firing did black figure pottery require?
The firing process of both red- and black-figure vessels consisted of three stages. During the first, oxidizing stage, air was allowed into the kiln, turning the whole vase the color of the clay.
What were amphora used for?
An amphora, such as the one at left, is a two-handled storage jar that held oil, wine, milk, or grain. Amphora was also the term for a unit of measure. Amphoras were sometimes used as grave markers or as containers for funeral offerings or human remains.
Why did Hector give Ajax a sword?
Ajax went mad and tried to kill Odysseus and other Greeks. Athena intervened and made him see Greeks where there were really cattle. When Ajax recovered, he was mortified by his deeds, although still aggrieved by the slight, and so killed himself using the sword Hector had given him.
Was Ajax a real person?
Ajax was a hero in Greek mythology, son of King Telamon of Salamis and Periboea. He played a pivotal role in the myth of the Trojan War. He is also known as Telamonian Ajax, Greater Ajax, or Ajax the Great, to be distinguished from Ajax the Lesser, son of Oileus.
What is the board game Achilles and Ajax are playing?
The board game they are playing, which might be compared to a backgammon or checkers variant, was played with a die. According to the words written next to the two players, Achilles proclaims he has thrown a four, while Ajax has a three.
What is Exekias trying to emphasize in his speech to Ajax?
Achilles and Ajax are neglecting their duties and irresponsibly play at a board game while the Trojans enter the Greek camp. Exekias emphasizes their intense concentration by using the combined diagonals of their spears and their gaze to focus on the game board.
What does the vase painting of Achilles and Ajax represent?
Apart from the selection of this very intimate, seemingly relaxed scene as a symbol for the Trojan War, this vase-painting also showcases the talent of Exekias as an artist: the figures of both Achilles and Ajax are decorated with fine incised details, showing elaborate textile patterns and almost every hair in place.
Why does Ajax lean farther forward than Achilles?
On the right, Ajax leans farther forward than Achilles so that the level of his head is slightly lower than Achilles’, and he has removed his helmet. Achilles’ helmet and tall crest indicate his dominance. Also, the board game – a game of chance – can be understood as metaphor for fate.