Two fragments of a Panathenaic prize amphora (jar)
Unknown Artist
late 6th–early 5th century BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
4 5/8 × 8 3/16 × 3/8 in. (11.8 × 20.8 × 0.9 cm)
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, Attic · Archaic
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1986
Accession Number
1986.11.1a, b
Art Historical Context
These two fragments from a Panathenaic prize amphora offer a tantalizing glimpse into ancient Athens' vibrant athletic and religious life during the late Archaic period (late th–early 5th century BCE). Panathenaic amphora were grand terracotta jars awarded as prizes at the Panathenaic, Athens' premier festival honoring the goddess Athena. Victorious athletes in events like running, wrestling, or chariot racing received these vessels filled with sacred olive oil from Athena's tree on the Acropolis—symbols of prestige that could sustain a winner for a year. Crafted in Attic Greece, these vases ...