Archaeological Museum of Bologna

Inside this cup is depicted Codros, legendary king of Athens, in conversation with Ainetos, the soothsayer who predicted his victory over Spartans at the cost of life.
Just from this kylix was identified the personality of a painter, active in Athens around the middle of the 5th century BC.
His production is exclusively limited to a series of kylikes, decorated mostly from attic mythological and heroic subjects.
The main feature of his work is a remarkable unity of style, strong and at the same time measured, animated by imposing figures and permeated by a religious atmosphere.
Outside of this cup are portraits the farewells of Ajax by Lico to the presence of Athena, Menesteo, Melite and Theseus from Aegean, in the presence of Medea, Phorbas and Etra. All characters represented are indicated by inscriptions.

More info

The cup was part of the collection of Pelagio Palagi, who purchased it in Vulci in 1840 through Emil Braun, who outdid the agents from the Berlin Museum.

Provenance: Probably from Vulci. Palagi Collection, formerly part of the Borselli di Sarteano Collection
Datation: 450 - 430 BC Codrus Painter
Material: clay
Dimensions: height cm 32,7; diam cm 32,5
Inventory #: G 595 (PU 273)