On the left, part of Apollo’s kithara; on the right, the head and shoulder of Hermes. Beside Hermes, and overlapping the back of his head and neck, is the mane and neck of a horse.

This fragment was part of an oinochoe, a vessel used to pour wine at the symposium. Despite its small size, there is enough detail to identify the figures depicted. Hermes, on the right, wears his distinctive petasos (traveller’s hat). A dark red pigment has been added to Hermes’ beard and clothing to add depth and definition to the black silhouette. The musical instrument on the left is a kithara, an instrument similar to the lyre, but with seven strings rather than four and requiring great skill to play. Apollo, the Greek god of music (among many other things), is often shown playing either the lyre or the kithara. Music was an important part of the symposium and is often depicted on Athenian drinking vessels. This fragment has some similarities with an oinochoe by the Painter of Munich 1760.

 

Literature: J. Falconer and T. Mannack, Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum: Great Britain, Fascicule 19: Winchester College (Oxford, 2002), pp. 3-4, plate 2.8; Winchester College Memorial Buildings: Department of Classical Art (Winchester, 1909), p. 18 (no. 44.3)

Exhibited: Chichester District Museum, May-September 2004

Provenance: Gift of B.J.M Dumas before 1909

Location: Treasury, Gallery 3