Archaeological Museum of Bologna

This red-figure vase, decorated with heads of young men or amazons in Phrygian caps and pigmies armed for the legendary battle against the cranes, is one of a type called the Volterra kelebe (in particular of production approaching that of the “Painter of Hesione”), inspired by the column krater of Greek tradition. These pots were produced in Volterra and reached Siena and Perugia territory, but also covered longer distances, like Bologna, where a pot of this type was found in the Gallic Benacci tomb 954 (room XI).

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A krater is a quintessential symposium vase and it is where wine was prepared for consumption. This particular type of pot, however, was always used as a cinerary urn and often decorated with themes linked to the tomb, so its purpose was prevalently for burials.

Provenance: From Perugia. University Collection, formerly part of the Marsili Collection
Datation: Late 4th–early 3rd century BC
Material: Pottery
Dimensions: height cm 58
Inventory #: IT 871