The few pottery exhibits of the

Delphi Archaeological Museum Delphi Archaeological museum (Modern Greek : ''Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο Δελφών'') is one of the principal museums of Greece and one of the most visited. It is operated by the Greek Ministry of Culture (Ephorate of Antiquities o ...

include a famous shallow bowl (

kylix In the pottery of ancient Greece, a kylix ( , ; grc, κύλιξ, pl. κύλικες; also spelled cylix; pl.: kylikes , ) is the most common type of wine-drinking cup. It has a broad, relatively shallow, body raised on a stem from a foot ...

) with an unusual depiction of the god

Apollo Apollo, grc, Ἀπόλλωνος, Apóllōnos, label=genitive , ; , grc-dor, Ἀπέλλων, Apéllōn, ; grc, Ἀπείλων, Apeílōn, label=Arcadocypriot Greek, ; grc-aeo, Ἄπλουν, Áploun, la, Apollō, la, Apollinis, label= ...

. In the

white-ground White-ground technique is a style of white ancient Greek pottery and the painting in which figures appear on a white background. It developed in the region of Attica, dated to about 500 BC. It was especially associated with vases made for ritua ...

red-figure Red-figure vase painting is one of the most important styles of figural Greek vase painting. It developed in Athens around 520 BCE and remained in use until the late 3rd century BCE. It replaced the previously dominant style of black-figure vas ...

technique, it was found in a grave underneath the museum. It is the work of an Attic workshop, around 480–470 BC. Scholars have suggested

Euphronios Euphronios ( el, Εὐφρόνιος; c. 535 – after 470 BC) was an ancient Greek vase painter and potter, active in Athens in the late 6th and early 5th centuries BC. As part of the so-called "Pioneer Group," (a modern name given to a group ...

or Onesimos as the painter, or described it as in the manner of the

Pistoxenos Painter The Pistoxenos Painter was an important ancient Greek vase painter of the Classical period. He was active in Athens between c. 480 and 460 BC. Many vases have been attributed to his hand on the basis of style. John Beazley gave him the name ...

.Beazley Archive, Vase 5522
/ref> The scene depicted evokes the verse from the second hymn to Apollo found inscribed on the southern wall of the

Treasury of the Athenians The Athenian Treasury (Greek: Θησαυρός των Αθηναίων) at Delphi was constructed by the Athenians to house dedications and votive offerings made by their city and citizens to the sanctuary of Apollo. The entire treasury including ...

: "Sing for the gold-haired Pythios who aims far with his bow and arrow and plays nicely the lyre".

Description

Apollo black bird AM Delphi 8140 - large

Inside the cylix Apollo is depicted with an elaborate hairdo and a laurel wreath on his head, sitting on a chair, the legs of which end up in lion's paws. The god wears a white

chiton Chitons () are marine molluscs of varying size in the class Polyplacophora (), formerly known as Amphineura. About 940 extant and 430 fossil species are recognized. They are also sometimes known as gumboots or sea cradles or coat-of-mail s ...

, a red

himation A himation ( grc, ἱμάτιον ) was a type of clothing, a mantle or wrap worn by ancient Greek men and women from the Archaic through the Hellenistic periods (c. 750–30 BC). It was usually worn over a chiton and/or peplos, but was made of ...

(cloak) and sandals. A seven-stringed

lyre The lyre () is a stringed musical instrument that is classified by Hornbostel–Sachs as a member of the lute-family of instruments. In organology, a lyre is considered a yoke lute, since it is a lute in which the strings are attached to a yoke ...

is attached to his left hand with a red stripe, whereas with his right hand he pours a

libation A libation is a ritual pouring of a liquid, or grains such as rice, as an offering to a deity or spirit, or in memory of the dead. It was common in many religions of antiquity and continues to be offered in cultures today. Various substa ...

out of a shallow bowl (''patera'') decorated with patterns in relief. Opposite the god is a black bird, for which several explanations have been offered: it is identified either as an oracular bird or as a crow which brought to Apollo the message that his beloved Koronis, daughter of king

Phlegyas In Greek mythology, Phlegyas (; Ancient Greek: Φλεγύας means 'fiery') was a king of the Lapiths (or the Phlegyans). Family Phlegyas was the son of Ares and Chryse, daughter of Halmus, or of Dotis. He was the brother of Ixion, another ...

, was getting married.

References

{{Reflist

Bibliography

*Kolonia, R.,2006, The archaeological museum of Delphi, Athens *Amandry, P., Chamoux, P., 1991, Guide de Delphes: Le musée, pp. 231–233

External links

Attic white-ground kylix
Delphi Archaeological Museum, retrieved February 10, 2016.
www.e-delphi.gr
The kylix of Apollo Individual ancient Greek vases Collection of the Delphi Archaeological Museum