Serious Drinking: Vases of the Greek Symposium
August 22, 2008–January 5, 2009
Teaching Gallery
Teaching Gallery
Organized in conjunction with Professor Susan Rotroff's course on ancient Athens offered through the Department of Classics, this exhibition presents a series of vases from the ancient Greek symposium--a highly choreographed, artistocratic, all-male drinking party that often drew to a close with a riotous parade about the shuttered streets of town. Yet intoxication was not the sole feature of these gatherings--frequently, as Plato's Symposium represents, a specific philosophical topic was hotly debated, poetry was recited, and music performed. During these vibrant affairs, guests reclined upon couches, dined, and lingered in conversation over their wine. Each vase fulfilled a specific function. By tracing this sequence, the display captures the flow of the ancient party while the decoration of the vases themselves mirror the festivity or express symposium themes of love, heroic courage, and Dionysiac mythology.
Selected works
Unknown (Greek, Grathia Style)
Jug
Late 3rd–4th Century BC
Unknown (Greek, Campanian)
Lekythos
4th century BC
Unknown (Greek, Apulian)
Lekythos
4th century BC
Lotoskreuzmaler
Pyxis
575–565 BC
Unknown (Greek, Middle Corinthian)
Aryballos
600 BC
Unknown (Greek, Early Corinthian)
Alabastron
635–625 BC
Unknown (Greek, Early Corinthian)
Alabastron
635–625 BC
Unknown (Greek, Corinthian)
Beaked Oinochoe
575–550 BC
Unknown (Greek, Attic)
Stamnos
485–480 BC
Unknown (Greek, Attic)
Squat Lekythos
Early 4th Century BC
Hermonax Painter
Nolan Amphora
475–465 BC
C Painter
Siana Cup
560–550 BC
Diosphos Painter
Lekythos
500–490 BC
Long-Nose Painter
Neck Amphora
540–525 BC
Achilles Painter
Lekythos
460–450 BC
Unknown (Greek, Attic)
Lekythos
450–425 BC
Unknown (Greek, Attic)
Lekythos
450–425 BC
Athena Painter
Lekythos
480 BC
Athena Painter
Lekythos
525–500 BC
Hasselmann Painter
Pelike
450–430 BC
Kensington Painter
Stamnos
460–450 BC
Terpaulos Painter
Trefoil Oinochoe
500–490 BC
Unknown (Greek, Attic)
Kantharos
500–490 BC
Elbows Out (The Painter of Louvre E 705)
Kylix
550–525 BC
Painter from the Leagros Group
Olpe
510 BCTeaching Gallery
The Teaching Gallery is a space in the Kemper Art Museum dedicated to presenting works from the Museum's collection with direct connections to Washington University courses. Teaching Gallery installations are intended to serve as parallel classrooms and can be used to supplement courses through object-based inquiry, research, and learning. Learn more