Examples Of Theseus In Malibu

The Ancient Greeks were ambitious inventors, whose innovations and creativity are often linked as the structure of modern western culture. They are prominently known for establishing the earliest recorded democratic government, developing the Olympic Games, and being the birthplace of philosophical reasoning. However, the most commonly overlooked treasure left from Ancient Greece, is their pottery. Among the historians that praise Ancient Greek pottery, the vases portraying Theseus and the Minotaur and Herakles and the Nemean Lion are examples of great excitement. Both of these vessels are currently on display at the Getty Villa in Malibu. While both vases showcase myth through their paintings, the style, technique and meaning of each vase is unique and profound.

This particular vessel type known as an amphora. An Amphora is “an Ancient Greek two-handled jar used for general storage purposes, usually to hold wine or oil” (106 Kleiner). It is swollen vessel with a rather large mouth for easy pouring. This particular amphora was used to store wine. Moreover, the amphora was “created in Athens, Greece” (Getty Museum) during the Archaic period (600-480 BCE). With the help of carbon dating, scholars estimate that it was made around 540 -530 BCE. The vessel itself is quite big about “35.4 cm tall and 18.7 cm wide” (Getty Museum). The medium used to make this amphora is Terracotta, which “is a reddish clay that has a brownish – orange color” (Merriam-Webster). Terracotta was preferred as a medium for pottery “because of its low cost, abundance and adaptability” (Violatti). As a result, this gave artists the ability to take on a more free and flexible