Dipylon Amphora Geometric Vase Ancient Greek Pottery Ceramic Museum Athens

Dimensions (approximately):

Height: 38,5 cm (15.16 in)

Width: 25 cm (9.84 in)

Net Weight: 2,5 kgr (5.5 lb)

Material: Clay – Genuine Ceramic

Our
vase is a reproduction of the famous Dipylon amphora made around 750 BC, which
is exhibited in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens.

The
Dipylon Amphora (original) is a
large Ancient Greek painted vase. Painted amphorae of this size were made as
grave markers. The intact clay pottery vessel was found at the Dipylon
cemetery, near the Dipylon Gate, in Kerameikos, the ancient potters’ quarter on
the northwest side of the ancient city of Athens. It is one of around 50
examples attributed to an unknown artist given the notname of “the Dipylon
Master”, one of the earliest individually identifiable Greek artists. The outer
surface of the amphora bears horizontal bands of painted decoration in the Late
Geometric style, including single, double and triple meanders. The tall
cylindrical neck, half the height of the body, includes friezes of repeated
stylised deer and of goats. A rectangular panel between the handles on one side
depicts a prothesis scene, the lying in repose of a draped dead woman on a
bier, with a checkered shroud above the body, and stylised figures of male and
female mourners to either side, each with lines for their arms raised to their
blob head, a triangular torso, and hips and legs that are modelled, and swell
abruptly from a wasp waist. There are similar figures in a panel on the
opposite side, and small groups of figures under each handle.