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Oil flask (lekythos) with sacrificial procession
Greek
Archaic Period
about 520–500 B.C.
Place of Manufacture: Greece, Attica, Athens
Medium/Technique
Ceramic, Red Figure
Dimensions
Height: 31 cm (12 3/16 in.)
Credit Line
Bartlett Collection—Museum purchase with funds from the Francis Bartlett Donation of 1912
Accession Number13.195
CollectionsAncient Greece and Rome
ClassificationsVessels
Catalogue Raisonné
Caskey-Beazley, Attic Vase Paintings (MFA), no. 014.
DescriptionThis lekythos shows a sacrificial procession moving to right. On the right, a girl leads a procession to the place of sacrifice, holding a ritual basket on her head. Called a "basket carrier" (kanephoros), she is followed by two adorned cows attended by two wreathed youths. Before her an Ionic column with a decorative fillet tied around it. The fillet on the column, the halters of cows, and the branches held by youths are painted in purple. Purple and white woolen fillets hang from horns of cows. Palmette design under handle. Black palmetttes around shoulder. On lip, inscription: "Gales made [it]" (see inscription field).
Signed
"Gales made [it]"
Inscriptions"Gales made [it]" (on lip)
ΓΑΛΕΣ ΕΠΟΙΕΣΕΝ
ΓΑΛΕΣ ΕΠΟΙΕΣΕΝ
ProvenanceBy 1912: with Edward Perry Warren (according to Warren's records: From Gela.); purchased by MFA from Edward Perry Warren, January 2, 1913, for $18,948.70 (this figure is the total price for MFA 13.186-13.245)