Vase-Painting in Italy: Red-figure and Related Works in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

1993

Central NK4654 MZ51

Boston: Museum of Fine Arts

It is likely that the Greeks settled the region of Puglia or Apulia around the 8th century BC. Red-figure Italian vase painting flourished in the region between 430-300 BC and today, the majority of surviving red-figure vases from this period are from Puglia. The wine jug or oinochoe on the left depicts a battle between the all-female race of Amazons and the Greeks – the Amazon sits atop her white charger preparing to run her lance through the Greek soldier to the left. In the top panel of the water jug to the right, the mythical figure Hippodameia is being abducted by her lover, Pelops, in a chariot pulled by four white horses.