Competition of musicians
Red-figure pelike. Attic.
By the Argos Painter.
Clay. Ca. 480 BCE.
Height 36 cm.
Inv. No. Б. 1570 (St. 1603, Б. 614).Saint Petersburg, State Hermitage Museum

Competition of musicians.

Red-figure pelike. Attic.
By the Argos Painter.
Clay. Ca. 480 BCE.
Height 36 cm.
Inv. No. Б. 1570 (St. 1603, Б. 614).

Saint Petersburg, State Hermitage Museum
(Санкт-Петербург, Государственный Эрмитаж).

Private collection, Campana.
Origin:
Unknown; from the Campana collection, acquired in 1862.
Description:
Side A represents a contest (agon) for musicians performing a kitharodia, singing accompanied by a lyre. A kitharodos is standing on a podium wearing a chiton under his mantle.

To his right, a bearded judge is sitting on a stool holding a staff in his left hand. The two central figures are flanked by two spectators, also wearing the himation and leaning on staffs. Originally, the Pythian Games comprised only the performance of a hymn in honour of Apollo. On side B, a rare, somewhat African scene: a camel and, behind it, a man of Negroid type, his head turned towards the camel to be sure that it is following him. In his right hand, he holds a staff. The animal is portrayed in great detail. The vase bears a graffito.

L. Utkina, D. Vanhove
Literature:
J. В. Beazley, ARV2(Oxford, 1963) no. 11 p. 288. A. A. Peredolskaya, Krasnofigurnye Atticheskie vazy (Leningrad, 1967) no. 61 p. 59, pl. XLI, CLXX, 9.
Credits:
© 1993. Photo, text: Olympism in antiquity. Olympic Museum Lausanne. Bertelsmann UFA. Industria Gráfica S. A. Barcelona, 1993, p. 69 cat. no. 12.
© Photo — M. Verhasselt (Brussels-Dilbeek).
© 1993 — Comité International Olympique.
Keywords: κεραμικά ceramics clay terracotta ceramica keramik céramique ελλάδα grecia graecia hellas greece griechenland grèce red-figure red-figured pelike attic by the argos painter competition of musicians music musician singing lyre citharedos citharoedus citharaedus citharedus citharist kitharodos chiton bench judge staff himatius himation inv no б 1570 st 1603 614