The few pottery exhibits of the

Delphi Archaeological Museum Delphi Archaeological museum () is one of the principal museums of Greece and one of the most visited. It is operated by the Greek Ministry of Culture (Ephorate of Antiquities of Phocis). Founded in 1903, it has been rearranged several times and h ...

include a famous shallow bowl (

kylix In the pottery of ancient Greece, a kylix ( , ; ; also spelled ''cylix''; : kylikes , ) is the most common type of cup in the period, usually associated with the drinking of wine. The cup often consists of a rounded base and a thin stem under ...

) with an unusual depiction of the god

Apollo Apollo is one of the Twelve Olympians, Olympian deities in Ancient Greek religion, ancient Greek and Ancient Roman religion, Roman religion and Greek mythology, Greek and Roman mythology. Apollo has been recognized as a god of archery, mu ...

. In the

white-ground White-ground technique is a style of white ancient Pottery of ancient Greece, Greek pottery and the Greek vase painting, painting in which figures appear on a white background. It developed in the region of Attica, dated to about 500 BC. It was ...

red-figure Red-figure pottery () is a style of Pottery of ancient Greece, ancient Greek pottery in which the background of the pottery is painted black while the figures and details are left in the natural red or orange color of the clay. It developed in A ...

technique, it was found in a grave underneath the museum. It is the work of an Attic workshop, around 480–470 BC. Scholars have suggested

Euphronios Euphronios (; c. 535 – after 470 BC) was an ancient Greek vase painter and potter, active in Athens in the late 6th and early 5th centuries BC. As part of the so-called " Pioneer Group," (a modern name given to a group of vase painters who we ...

or Onesimos as the painter, or described it as in the manner of the Pistoxenos Painter.Beazley Archive, Vase 5522
/ref> The scene depicted evokes the verse from the second hymn to Apollo found inscribed on the southern wall of the Treasury of the Athenians: "Sing for the gold-haired Pythios who aims far with his bow and arrow and plays nicely the lyre".

Description

Apollo black bird AM Delphi 8140 - large

Inside the cylix Apollo is depicted with an elaborate hairdo and a laurel wreath on his head, sitting on a chair, the legs of which end up in lion's paws. The god wears a white

chiton Chitons () are marine molluscs of varying size in the class Polyplacophora ( ), formerly known as Amphineura. About 940 extant and 430 fossil species are recognized. They are also sometimes known as sea cradles or coat-of-mail shells or suck ...

, a red

himation A himation ( , ) was a type of clothing, a mantle (clothing), mantle or Wrap (clothing), wrap worn by ancient Greek men and women from the Archaic Greece, Archaic period through the Hellenistic period ( BC). It was usually worn over a Chiton (gar ...

(cloak) and sandals. A seven-stringed

lyre The lyre () (from Greek λύρα and Latin ''lyra)'' is a string instrument, stringed musical instrument that is classified by Hornbostel–Sachs as a member of the History of lute-family instruments, lute family of instruments. In organology, a ...

is attached to his left hand with a red stripe, whereas with his right hand he pours a

libation A libation is a ritual pouring of a liquid as an Sacrifice, offering to a deity or spirit, or in Veneration of the dead, memory of the dead. It was common in many religions of Ancient history, antiquity and continues to be offered in cultures t ...

out of a shallow bowl (''patera'') decorated with patterns in relief. Opposite the god is a black bird, for which several explanations have been offered: it is identified either as an oracular bird or as a crow which brought to Apollo the message that his beloved Koronis, daughter of king

Phlegyas In Greek mythology, Phlegyas (; Ancient Greek: Φλεγύας means 'fiery') was a king of the Lapiths (or the Phlegyans). Family Phlegyas was the son of Ares and Chryse, daughter of Halmus, or of Dotis. In one account, he was mentioned as ...

, was getting married.

References

Bibliography

*Kolonia, R.,2006, The archaeological museum of Delphi, Athens *Amandry, P., Chamoux, P., 1991, Guide de Delphes: Le musée, pp. 231–233

External links

Attic white-ground kylix
Delphi Archaeological Museum, retrieved February 10, 2016.
www.e-delphi.gr
{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924033627/http://www.delphi.diadrasis.net/en-gb/museum/selectedexhibits/thekylixofapollo.aspx , date=2018-09-24 The kylix of Apollo Individual ancient Greek vases Collection of the Delphi Archaeological Museum Individual drinking vessels Archaeological discoveries in Central Greece