Red-Figure Krater Painter ofTaranto Greek/Apulian, c. 330-320 B.C. Gift of Mr. & Mrs. William Knight Zewadski Tampa Museum of Art (86.225)

This vase was a tomb gift and is an excellent example of the florid, baroque style of pottery decoration from Magna Graecia, an area colonized by the Greeks in southern Italy. The highly decorative effect is emphasized by the Gorgon heads carved in relief on the handles and with swan heads on the shoulders, The surface is covered with a dense pattern of multi-colored figures and designs. The black and red areas are fired slip and the white areas are painted on after the firing.

One or both of the figures may represent the deceased. Since they and the temple structure are painted white, the scene may be interpreted as a funerary monument. The women and satyrs are probably connected with the worship of Dionysus, the god of wine.

This project funded through grants from the Junior League of Tampa, Inc. and the State of Florida, Division of Cultural Affairs, Arts in Education Program.