Chapter 5 / Ajax and Achilles Playing a Game

Greece / c. 530-520 B.C.

In ancient Greece, vases and jars like this one were a very popular art form. This type is called an amphora, or two-handled jar. It was painted by the Andokides painter as well as the Lysippides painter around 525 B.C. The amphora stands nearly 22 inches high and is about 13.5 inches in diameter. The jar is ceramic, and the techniques used are black figure as well as red figure. As you can see, one technique is used on one side while the other is used on it's opposite. Some sources speculate that it was Andokides himself around 530 B.C. who created the style of red figure.

The juxtaposition between red figure and black figure make this jar a very dynamic work of art. In my opinion, since red figure was invented after black figure, the jar almost serves as a connection piece for between two points of Greek history. On both the black figure side as well as the red figure side, Ajax and Achilles are depicted playing a game (possibly dice). Both of these people were considered heroes in Greek mythology, and are depicted wearing helmets on the red figure side and each holding two spears. Their helmets are hung behind them on the black figure side. They are each wearing the traditional tunic and armor for battle. Their shields rest behind them.

The handles of the vase are decorated in an intricate pattern of triangles. Framing the scene is another intricate pattern that seems almost floral. The detail in their tunics is an aspect of this amphora that makes their painters unmatched by any others. Although the orange tint of the material and the black shine are the two dominant colors, details of white and red can also be seen on the jar in the tunics, the base of the jar, and the chairs on the red figure side.