Archaeology & Antiquities
White-Ground Lekythos (Oil Vessel): Atalanta and Erotes
Permanent ExhibitionCeramicsMythology & AllegoryVessel
Details
- Author / creator
- Douris (Greek, Attic, active c. 500–470 BCE)
- Object type
- Archaeology
- Date or period
- c. 500–490 BCE
- Dimensions summary
- Overall: 31.8 cm
- Site or findspot
- Vulci, Italy (Greek import)
- Cultural period
- Ancient
- Place of origin
- Greek
- Acquisition method
- Purchase
- Credit line
- Purchased with the V&A Purchase Grant Fund, 1966
- Image rights
- Public domain (CC0)
About this object
Known as "white-ground" because of the white clay slip applied as a surface for figural decoration, vases of this type give some idea of the appearance of lost ancient large-scale wall paintings. Both remarkably well preserved and masterfully composed, the images cover the entire circumference of the vase. At the center, Atalanta, the virgin huntress renowned for both her speed and her opposition to marriage, races to the right while looking back at Eros, the winged god of love; both figures are named. This Eros, bounding forward, tries to crown her, while two additional Erotes (also named) further hem her in. Love will win.
Materials and technique
Ceramic
