Art of the Ancient World

PYTHON
(Greek, from Paestum in southern Italy, about 350-340 B.C.)

Calyx Krater
Earthenware with slip decoration
Gift of the Charter Collectors 1990.7

Twenty-four centuries ago, a Greek artist named Python painted this terra-cotta vessel in southern Italy in the Greek colony of Paestum. Known as a krater, it was used to mix wine and water. This example is called a calyx krater because it is shaped like a calyx — the outer leaves of a flower bud, which form a graceful, wide-mouthed bowl.

The painting on this vessel shows Python at his best. His distinctive hand can be noticed in many details. The artist’s love of ornament and texture appears in the rich patterns on the figures’ garments.

On the reverse or back of the vase, two male youths are shown conversing. The wreaths they wear on their heads may indicate that they are victorious athletes. The pattern of dots and stripes, which borders their costumes, is another characteristic of Python’s work.