Terracotta squat lekythos (oil flask)
ca. 440 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
H. 9 5/8 in. (24.5 cm) diameter 5 5/16 in. (13.5 cm)
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, Attic · Classical
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1917
Accession Number
17.230.13
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of Classical Athens with this exquisite terracotta squat lekythos, by the Achilles Painter around 440 BCE. Named after legendary hero Achilles for his masterful depictions of him, this Attic Greek vase painter was a leading figure in the red-figure, where figures are painted in the natural red clay against a black-gloss background, allowing intricate details to shine through. Standing just 9 5/8 inches tall with a 5 5/16-inch diameter, this compact oil flask—known as a lekythos—was typically used for perfumed oils in daily life or as grave offerings, blending utility with a...