MoreThe shape, clay, and decoration of this pot identify it as an amphora--a container for oil or wine--from early 5th century B.C.E. Athens, Greece. Was it valued as a fine piece of tableware, much as we value it as an artwork today? Some scholars say the black color and ornamentation imitate silver vessels, making vases like this a cheap substitute for precious metal tableware.
A young man holds a flat dish (the cup's stem is a modern addition). A woman holds a wine jug; together, they are pouring out wine to the gods. The man's spear indicates war; the picture of the joint offering suggests that both women and men played roles in procuring the gods' favor for Athens' military plans. This image is therefore not a 'snapshot' of real life, but more probably a scene showing a civic ideal.
What about the old man on the other side?
