Baltimore, Hopkins AIA B9
Kylix by Douris
480-470 B.C.
B 9. Baltimore Society AIA, formerly Hartwig Collection. "Chiusi."
Ht, 9.5 cm; diam with handles, 30 cm; diam rim, 22.5 cm; diam foot, 8.7 cm.
Mended.
Standing on exergue is a bearded male bending over a whip top, his
supporting right leg frontal, his left leg in left profile. In the hand of his
upraised right arm is a stick, on which there are three strings. His left hand
rests on his left knee. His torso is largely concealed by his chlamys, which is
fastened on his right shoulder. His head is in right profile and he wears a
petasos. In field below his right elbow is a floral motif. On other side of top
is youth whose torso faces three-quarters front, legs in left profile, right arm
extended, left hand on hip. Mantle draped over body and back of head, exposing
only right shoulder and arm. Fillet. In field above his head is a floral motif.
Inscribed in field:
ΚΑΛΟΣ
ΧΗ.
Relief contour throughout, except for reserved hairline. Dilute glaze
for some inner markings. Added red for strings of stick and lettering. Border
consists of rightward meander.
The petasos and chlamys suggest that the top-spinner is Hermes, and
this identification is confirmed by vases in Florence
1 and Tübingen
2 on which Hermes, outfitted with kerykeion and winged sandals, is engaged
in spinning a top. Beazley
3 suggests that, after receiving the whip from Apollo (
HH Herm. 497), Hermes
invented the whip top, although other types of tops subsequently evolved.
4 We are perhaps to imagine that the god is in the palaestra, an area
sacred to Hermes and an
association that accounts for the deity's special rapport with youth.
5
This cup belongs to Douris's late period,
6 when the stopt meander was common, the drawing was delicate, and the
small figures were well contained within the circular field. At this time Douris
was working primarily for the potter Python.
Bibliography
P. Hartwig, RömMitt 2 (1887):169, no. 9;
Hartwig 1893, 657-59, pl. 72.2;
FR, 251-52, no. 1;
P. Wolters, MJb 8 (1913):89, fig. 7;
Beazley 1918, 97;
Hoppin 1919, vol. I, 277, no. 46;
Beazley 1925, 208, no. 119;
Philippart 1928, 50;
CVA, USA fasc. 6, Robinson fasc. 2, 16, pl.
XII;
Zschietzschmann 1959, pl.
181.2;
ARV2, 445, no.
251;
D. Gould, Expedition 22 (1980):44, fig. 4.
