Geometric Dipylon Krater Essay

The painted Geometric Dipylon krater is a giant goblet like vessel, from 740 B.C.E in Athens. It is about three feet and four inches tall and consists of black figures, animals and symbols painted onto a paler ceramic background. The base and stem of the krater have alternating thick black stripes and zig-zagged patterns, extending about a third of the way up the cup. A stripe of a continuous figure 8 divides this section from the upper part of the krater. There is a white stripe above, containing many painted figures. From the left, there are horses attached to carts, upon which figures stand. A taller figure stands between the two horse pulled carts. We can see the full shape of only one horse, and the legs and heads of two other behind it. In the next level up containing figures, we see at least 15 figures and two animals gathered around a figure lying on a table. Above this scene are more patterned sections. The uppermost part of the krater is a maze, or “s” like design that runs around the rim. Almost all of the empty space is taken up with symbols and iconography. …show more content…
Lines of varying width frame the different scenes, and small symbols are both within the lines and in the empty space. The sections of line and pattern are arranged into registers up the entire krater. Not only are the scenes framed, but the individual humans are surrounded by dots and dashes. These figures are highly stylized, and simplified down to the most basic geometric shapes. The very dark base of the krater and the iconographic painting as a whole is a stark contrast with the paleness of the ceramic. There is no use of perspective in the piece, and no indication that the figures live in a three dimensional world. Depth is not represented anywhere in the