BEYOI{DDeath and Afterlife in Ancient Greece

Edited by Nicholas

Stavroula

Chr. Stampolidis

Oikonomou

e 3--::=:- / Foundation

g'Il

MUSEUMOF CYCLADICARTNICHOLAS AND DOLLY

6OULANDRIS FOUNDATION

HELLENIC REPUBL ICMinistry of Culture and Sports

The catalogue is issued in conjunction with the exhibition

Art, Athens, and the Onassis Foundation, in collaboration

EXHIB IT ION

CuratorsNicholas Chr. StampolidisStavroula Oikonomou

Museum of Cycladic Art, AthensExhibition Designer, Dimitrios KoutsojiannisGraphic Designer, BENDLighting Designer, Dimitrios KoutsojiannisItalian Liaison, Mariangela Ielo

Published by the Museum of Cycladic Art, AthensIn collaboration with the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation

Copyright@ zot4 Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation, Athens, Greece@ zot4 Nicholas & Dolly Goulandris Foundation, Museum of Cycladic Art, Athens, Greece

All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part,including illustrations, in any form without written permission from the publisher.

Bt)\nd: Death and Afterlife in Ancient Greece, organized by the Museum of Cycladicwith\the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports.

I

CATALOGUE

Editors

Nicholas Chr. Stampolidis

Stavroula Oikonomou

Text Editor, Barbara Burn

Translators from Greek, Lilia Psarrou, Valerie Nunn

Translator from Italian, French, and German, Stavroula Oikonomo

Proofreading, Marina Thomatos

Designer, Sophia Geronimus

Image Editing, Yannis Stavrinos

Color Separation, Yannis Stavrinos

Printed by Register

Front cover: detail of cat. no.

Back cover: cat. no. 53Page z: detail of cat. no. 4j

ISBN 978- o-99o6142-o-3

)

,, Nicholas and Dolly Goulandris Foundation - Museurn of Cycladic Art

Chr. StampolidisOikonomou

CATALOGUE

IMENT OF DEATH

Secretary of Cubure, Hellenic Ministry of Cwbure and Sports

y S. PapadimitriouAlexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation

Marinopoulop

Chr. Stampolidis

IC UNDERWORLD

Johnston

HIC-ORPHIC HADES

Z. Tzifopoulos

IC UNDERWORLDS

93

53

55

79

THE MOMENT OF DEATH

Entries r-9

BURIAL CUSTOMS

Prothesis and MourningEntries 1.o-2r,

Ekphora and IntermentEntries zz-3r,

Special Grave GoodsEntries 32-39

ao5 The Grave Marker and the Custom of Visiting the Grave

Entries 40-53

a23 Fallen Warriors and Other 'Special Dead'

Entries 54-54

a3g HOMERIC HADES

Entries 6S-81

t6g THE BAccHrc-oRPHrc HADES

Entries 84-ro8

ag7 THE PLATONTC HADES

Entries aog-aao

2O2 GLOSSARY OF TERMS

2O5 INDEX OF MYTHICAL FIGURES

27.O ABBREVIATIONS

27.O BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lenders to the Exhibition

GREECE

Athens, Benaki Museum

Athens, Epigraphical Museum

Athens, Kerameikos Archaeological Museum

Athens, Museum of Cycladic Art

Athens, National Archaeological Museum

Athens, The Paul and Alexandra Canellopoulos Museum,

rst Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities

Athens, 3rd Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities

Edessa, rTth Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities

Katerini, zTth Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities

Larissa, Diachronic Museum, r5th Ephorate of Prehistoric and

Classical Antiquities

Olympia, Archaeological Museum, 7th Ephorate of Prehistoric

and Classical Antiquities

Peiraieus, Archaeological Museum, zSth Ephorate of Prehistoric

and Classical Antiquities

Rethymnon, zsth Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities

Theba, Archaeological Museum, 9th Ephorate of Prehistoric

and Classical Antiquities

Thessaloniki, Archaeological Museum

FRANCE

Boulogne-sur-Mer, Mus6e de Boulogne-sur-Mer

Paris, BibliothBque nationale de France

ITALY

Napoli, Museo Archeologico Nazionale

S\vITZERLAND

Basel, Antikenmuseum Basel und Sammlung Ludwig

UNITED K INGDOM

London, The Trustees of the British Museum

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Boston, Museum of Fine Arts

New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Conributors to the Catalogue

Polyxeni Adam-Yeleni , DirectoL Archaeological Museum, Stavroula Oikonomou, Cututot, M seum of Cycladic Att, Athens

Thessalonihi" Nomiki Palaiokrassa, Curator, Metalhargy Collection,

Christina Avronid?ki, C'l tator, Yase and Minot Objects Collectiorl, Natioxal Archaeological Mxsexm, Atbens

National Ar/haeological Museum, Athens Irini Papageorgiou, Czr^to\ Depa.rtment of Prehistoric,

Manhaios Bes/ios, ArcD aeologist, zTth Ephorate of Prehktoric and Ancient Greek, a d Rornln Art, Beflaki Museum, Athms

Classical Antiquities, Katetini Angeliki Poulou, ArcDdeologist, 26th Epholate of Prehistori. dhd

Leonidas Bournias, Archaeologist, jrd Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiq ities, Peiraie,s

Classical Antiquities, Athens Phoebe Segal, Mary Bryce Cornstoch Assistant Cutato\ Grcek 1nd

Polyxen\ Rouyta, Curator, Brofizes Collection, National Roman Art, Museurn of Fine Arts, Boston

Archaeological Museum, Atbens M^ia S^lta, Carator, Scblptarc Collectiott, National Archaeological

Alexandra Charami, Supetintendent, 9th Epborate of Prehistotic Museum, Athens

axd Classical Attiquities, Theba Eleni Servetopoulou, Archaeologkt, jrd Ephorate of Prchistotic dnd

Maria Chidiroglou, Cz rator, Vase and Mi or Objects Collection I Classi{al Antiqaities, Athet,s

Photo Atchiues, National Archaeological M seut t, Atbens Yera Slehofe\ Curator, Atttiheflffiuseum Basel and Sammlung

Stella Chryssoulaki, Sz perintendent, zSth Ephorute of Prehistotic Ludwig, Basel

and Classical Antiquities, Peiraieus Nicholas Chr, Stamp olidis, Professor of Classical Atcbaeology,

C€<i\e Colonna, Catator, Collection d'Antiques, Uttiuersity of Oete, dnd Directot, Museam of Cycladic An, Athens

Bibliothique nationale de Ftance, Paris Charalambos Tsougaris, Archaeologkt, zTth Ephordte of Ptehistoic

Ga€lle Etesse. Crlatol. Seruice des collections, Musie de and Classical Axtiquities, Ed*sa

Boulogne-sur-Mer Chrysanthi Tsouli, Czntor, Sculpture Collection, National

Anastasia Gadolou, Catutor, V4se dnd Minot Obiects Collection, Archaeological Museam, Athens

National Archaeological Museum, Athens Yannis Z. Tzifopoulos, Professot of Classical Philology axd

loannes Graekos, ArrD aeologkt, L|th Ephorate of Prehistoric dnd Epigraphy, Aristotle Uniuetsity, Thessalonihi

Classical Attiquities, Edessa Alexandra Villing, Cz rator, Deparh ent of Greece and Rome,

Ftilr- Graf, Ptof*sor of Greek and I'atin, Director of Epigraphy, The Btitish Museun, London

The Ohio Sute llniuetsity, Columbus Evangelos Vivliodetis , Curutor, Vase and Minor Objects Collection,

Fiorenza Grasso, ArcE aeologist, Associote of Sopintendenzd pef i National Atcbaeologial Museum, Athens

Bexi Atcheologici, Napoli Elena Vlachogianni, Cztator, Sdlpture Colle.tion, National

Peter Higgs, CwatoL Depdrtment of Greece and Rofiq Atchaeological Museum, Athens

The Btitisb Museum, London Angelos Zarkadas, Czruto4The Par.tl and. Alexandra Canellopoulos

Sarah IIes Johnston, A rts and H rna ities Distinguished Professor Museam, Athefls

of Religion and Ptofessor of classics, The ohio state Eleni z^wolt, car^tof, Epigaphical Musetam, Athens

Ilfliue$ity, Columbus Eleni Zost, CtratoL Vase dnd Minor Obiects Collection,

Despina Ignatiadou, cz rator of Meulwork, Archaeological Museum, Ndtiondl Archaeological Museum, Athens

Thessaloxiki

Kyriaki Karoglou, Ass istant CardtoL Depart nent of Gteeh and

Romdn Art, The Metropolitan M seut t of Art, Netu yolh

Stella Katakouta, Carato4 Diachronic Museurn, Larissa

Kleopatra Kathariou, Archaeologist, Marie Curie Researcb Fellou,

Fie&ich Schiller Uniuersity, Jena

Triantafillia Kattoula, A rchaeologist, 25th Ephorate of Prehistotic

and Classicol Antiqrities, PeirAieus

George Kawadias, Cztator, Vase and Minot Obiects Colle.tiott,

National Atchaeological Mxseum, Athens

Katelina Kostanti, Crfator, Collection of Prehistoric Antiqaities,

National Archaeological Museum, Athens

Evridiki Leka, Curator, S culp *re Colle crton, National

At chaeological Museam, Ath ens

Christos Matzanas, A/ chaeologist, 7th Epbordte of Prehistoric lnd

Classical A tiquities, Olyr Pia

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54.Red-Figure Loutrophoros

450-:+25 B.C.

At t ic workshop. At t r ibutecJ to the Naples Pain ter

Clrrv

H.8r .5 cm, r im d i r r r -n . lo cur , b : lse c l iam. r8 .8 cnr

Fronr the foot o f Ph i lop: rppou Hi l l (K.vr iakopoulou

excitvirtion, " Karit tir. orp ct l, t:^i 61." Inerr r the sl a u ghter- h or,rscs l )Athens, Ni r t iona l Arc l - raeoloe ica l MLrseunr , - r lo l l

Photo O Hcllcnic \4inistr i . of ( lLr l ture .rncl Sports - Archacologic.r l

Rcccipts Funcl

I{cconstructccl ancl restorecl. A holc rhrough the uppcr end of the ortc

lrancl lc ancl cight tr-rrr irs of bl incl holcs on the bottom surface of the foor

rtrc from rtn rtncient rcpair. Tri tces of aclded rvhite pigrnent on thc hehret

crcsts irncl thc pi los. ' fraces

of uri l tos in placcs. [ , imitecl usc of a f ine rel ief

l inc on thc rrrms of thc Arr.rr.rzou.

This is a standirrcl Att ic loutrophoros-irnrphori l shape, with ar-r

echinus-shaped l ip. The concavc, hol low vase hi 'rs no bottom. A

chiton-clrrcl femirle f igurc stancls on one side of the neck, ancl

thcre are trrrces of t l -re outl ine of a similar f igure on the other side.

The body of the vase has a representi l t ion of batt l ing hopl i tes

that extcncls to both sicles. Trvo opponents wexrinq crested

helrnets, ir Corinthian ancl a Clhalcidei ln type respectivcly, are

holcl ir-rg spci lrs ancl round shields arnd are bi l t t l ing over thc body of

ir frr l len Ar-n:rzon, who werrrs an enbell ishecl Thrircian chitoniskos,

belted at rhe waisr. A woven pclte (sl l ielcl) l ies on rhe grouncl

lrncler the Amazon's left hand. To the left stancls r lnother hopl i tc,

wcarrir-rg rr chitoniskos Lrpon which a baldric can be macle out; he

brandisl-res i,r sworcl in his rigl-rt l-rand; in his other hirncl he is

holcl ing over the Amazon a round shield emblazonecl with an

eight-point srar. The shielcl also has a dotted border, sir.ni lar t<r

that on the shielcl of the l iopl i te on the r ieht. The upper half of a

nrale f igurc with a pi los-type l-relr-r-ret irncl spear survives, along

with p:rrt of the l-relrnet crcst of rrnother hopl i te, on the other sicle

of tl-re bocly of thc vase. The representation is crownecl with ar-r

Ionic molcl ing ancl fongr-re-shapecl ornamenf.

A palnette motif clecorates the lower part of t l -re neck.

There is rr continuor-rs zigzrrgging l ine on the l ip and narrorv sidcs

o i the hanc i les nnd a zone wi th an o l ive branch between tw<r

rings beneath the representation. A ra-vecl tongue motif clecorates

the foot oi the vrrse.

4 2 5

The diff'erent levels on which the figures arc arranged on theloutrophoros demonstrate the influence of large-scale paintings.

The intense gestures of the figures reveal their feelings and the1 degree to which the vase painter attempted to emphasize the

' heroic and mythical characrer of rhe scene. The red-figure

---t loutrophoros constitutes an example of a preeminently Atticvase; its prevailing name (Pseudo-Demosthene s, 44, r8;Hesychius,

s.v. )ootporp6pa ayyr1, i.e., water-containing vessels; Polydeukes,

H, 65), and type are associated with the transition rituals ofmarriage and death. The vase is dominated by a scene of hoplites

fighting against Amazons. Amazons are usually portrayed battlingmen in the sources (Aristophanes, Lysistrata, 678-79). It isbelieved that the figure of the Amazon on the ground depictsPenthesileia, the sword-yielding hoplite is Achilleus, and thehoplite to the right of the Amazon is Thersites. The Aithiopis

epic narrates the moment when Achilleus slew and simultane-

ously fell in love with Penthesileia (AithioDis, Proclus 5rff.).Penthesileia's maidenly figure is portrayed in Skythian dresswith Skythian weaponry in the wall painting by Polygnoros thatdecorated the Lesche of the Knidians at Delphoi (Pausanias,

x.3r,8): "In appearance Penthesileia is a maiden, carrying a bowlike Scythian bows, and wearing a leopard's skin on her

shoulders." The representation on the loutophoros may also beassociated with the tale of Theseus's clashing with the Amazons

for supremacy over Athens (Plutarchus, Theseus z7.r-6;Pausanias, r.4r,7).

However, a study of the overall small number of survivingred-figure loutrophoroi from the fifth century s.c. that portray

scenes from the Amazonomachy or other martial subjectsindicates that these vases and their representations probably

constituted a public or private, generalized and symboliciconographic rendition of the symbols of premature death, andespecially of the bravery and principles of the Athenian citizenswho fell on the fields of battle. It has also been maintained thatthe production of red-figure loutrophoroi with scenes of battle

and martial subjects during the course of the fifth century n.c. isclosely related to the institution of public graves in Athens.

Sources, including archaeological and iconographic data, revealthat some clay loutrophoroi, occasionally with battle scenes,were placed on burial mounds or monuments in plain view, just

like their stone counterparts.

The ancient repairs on the foot and handle of the vasedemonstrate) on the one hand, that it was used at the grave

monument as a marker and ritual vessel and, on the other, howimportant it was to either the deceased's apparently illustrious

house or the person responsible for the care of the tomb. Therepresentation on the loutrophoros highlights the hoplites,

fighting spirit and their victory over the Amazons. The context

of the representation also demonstrates that the body of thedead opponent must be respected. Moreover, the Amazons

function here as symbols of foreign life forms, living accordingto ways that are incompatible with an organrzed city. Insculpture, as in vase painting, the representations of the battlesof hoplites or horsemen against Amazons function as symbolic

signifiers on many levels. They showcase the collective ideals of

the city, such as bravery, heroic death in battle, the myth ofAthenian autochthonism, the triumph of rationality overlawlessness and of democratic order over tyranny.

The premature death of the untamed Amazon may verywell constitute an additional commentary regarding marriedadult life, which was sacrificed by the deceased honored by thisparticular loutrophoros. The depiction on this vase, whethermythological or generalized, clearly caprures the implications ofa heroic premature death, the marriage-and consequent

continuation of the family line-that never occurred, and,generally, the "annulment" of the natural adult life of anAthenian citrzen. The vase crowned the tomb, burial mound, orcenotaph of the deceased, who was a man, possibly beautifuland good, who fell in battle.

Selected Bibliography

Collignon "ni

Co,ru. i.9o2, 523) no. 164z; ARV2 1r,99, no. 47iRichter a9o4-5,238-4r, figs. r-3; Beazley 1-932, L5 n. 15; Van denDriessche a973, 1,2-33, f ig. 5; Stupperich a977,98, tro. 3, :156 n.3,no. 3, r59; LIMCI ft98t), s.v. Achilleus, 163, no. 7zB [A. Kossatz-Deissmann]; LIMCI ft98t), s.v. Amazones, 5o8, no. 331[P. Devambez, A. Kauffmann-Samaras]; Clairmont 1983,passim; Kokula g84, 37 n. r; Lissarrague a99o, passim; LIMCYII (t994), s.v. Penthesi leia, 29g,no.38 [E. Berger]; AA a9 ft994)B1: XpovrKd, 7, pls. 56-or lH. Zt.pBou8drc4l; T(e6drcrg (ed.) 1995,

49, no. zr [A).. A6rcrco]; Blok 1995, a95-239; LIMCYIII ft99),s.v. Thersites, rzo8-9, no. 6 [K. Zimmermann]; Blokry95,:r95-

49;Bol 1998, rt4 n. 639; Recke zooz, pl.5o; Fabricius zoo4, r54,

ry7;Hannah zoro, 3oz, no. z5; Schwarzmaier zorl', rz6 n. 49.

Maria Chidiroglou

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