7. Shape Exekias potted his own vases, so each one was shaped in order to complement the design he intended for it. This vase differs from the traditional Amphora shape in the following ways: The shoulder of the vase is much broader and squarer – in fact the shoulder is the widest part of the body of the vase – much wider than the belly
20. This is the psychological moment: the viewer knows what is about to happen! The heroes are sitting on boxes, dressed in full armour, with the rest of their battle gear close at hand. Either the game is so engrossing that they are literally on the edge of their seats with excitement, or this is a very temporary scene. Perhaps they sat down just for a quick game? Either way, the effect is the same.
21. Achilles is the larger, dominant figure. He wears a Corinthian helmet with a horsehair crest. Note the depiction of the figures themselves: Ajax is bare-headed (his helmet is hanging from his shield behind him)
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23. Exekias gives the heroes Boeotian shields – common in archaic art. Achilles’ shield is particularly detailed – it shows a satyr’s head in high relief. Ajax’s shield shows a similar scene, but his shield shows a Gorgon’s head without the relief. See p. 18 in Black text for clearer pictures
24. Composition BALANCED SYMMETRICAL Scene is framed by the borders above and below The central figures form a triangle, with Achilles’ horse hair at the apex. The bodies and arms of the heroes form another triangle
26. The line of the spears continue to line up with the handles, and the line of the shields also follow the line of the handles
27. The curved backs of the heroes follows the line of the vase – shows how Exekias decorated his vase in sympathy with its form
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29. Realism Detail on the horse’s hair plume on the helmet, also on Achilles’ beard Exekias added white slip on Achilles’ corselet and greaves, and purple on the shield Cloak shows incredible detail, all incised through the black, with white and purple added to the stars, spirals and flowers on the cloak. The leather corselet bulges underneath the cloak. Extra glaze used to show Achilles’ curls p.19 (Black) to show detail
30. Limitations to Exekias’ Realism Exekias’ eyes are all shown in frontal aspect Muscles are shown, but there is no attempt to make them look realistic Achilles’ cloak is flat and two dimensional, but Exekias is trying to show the folds in the drapery
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35. Exekias creates a homely scene to illustrate the reunion of the family – even when family members are mythical heroes Polydeuces Note he is bending down to greet the family dog, which jumps ecitedly Queen Leda, hand outstretched, greets Castor with a flower King Tandareus stands, hand outstretched to pat Castor’s horse A slave boy is also present. He carries a stool on his head, with a set of clothes for the brothers, and holds an aryballos Castor holds his horse with one hand, a spear with the other, and turns his head towards his mother
36. Exekias is again trying to make his decoration more realistic. He paints Castor behind his horse – trying to create the impression of depth. Typically for the period, Exekias paints Castor mainly in profile – only his head turns behind to greet his mother. This is a rigid, unrealistic pose.
37. Drapery and Realism Castor wears a chlamys, which Exekias has coloured with red slip. Queen Leda wears a peplos, which is flat and foldless Polydeuces is naked Tyndareus wears an himation Exekias has used incisions through the black slip to show the folds in the cloth of these cloaks – an attempt to show realism Exekias has incised through the black to show detail on the horse’s mane
38. Limitations to Realism All the figures stand on the same groundline However, Exekias has placed Castor and the dog behind other figures to provide depth.
39. Composition of Side B Scene framed above and below Placing the horse in the centre, and the figures either side provides symmetry in the scene.
40. Composition of Side B There are THREE focal points. This creates the sense of depth and movement. 1 2 3
Notes de l'éditeur
TRADITIONAL SHAPE IS AN UNBROKEN CURVE, FROM NECK TO FOOT – THIS IS A NEW SHAPE
Ajax was angry and hurt, and decided to attack the Greek leaders at night, but Athena drove him mad so that he slaughtered the Greeks’ cattle by mistake. When he woke up, Ajax discovered his error and killed himself. Athena did this because Ajax had once turned down her help in battle. Some stories said that, when odysseus was shipwrecked, the arms of achilles were washed up on the shore close to the tomb of Ajax – as if in some act of divine justice.
The shoulder guard protects the spear-throwing shoulder
Some stories say that Zeus’ children were even born from an egg.
Helen = Helen married Menelaus, was given to Paris, and caused the Trojan war Polydeuces = Pollux
Idas cut up a cow into 4, and said that whoever finished eating 1 st could take half the cows, and whoever finished 2 nd could take the other half. Idas finished 1 st and then helped his bro finish his, before talking all the cows away with them. Castor and Polydeuces followed them and stole the cattle.
Aryballos was a container for oil, used for cleansing and annointing by athletes – doesn’t seem like it has any relevance to the scene.