Olpe Chigi

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Olpe Chigi

(c.640 BC)

Protocorinthian Olpe Vase

26cm high

Discovered in a temple on the Chigi family estate

Uses black figure technique

Structure

Hoplite WarfareHorseman, Chariot, Double-bodied sphinx, Lion Hunt, Judgement of Paris

Hare Hunt, Animals

Rays

Frieze 1: Hoplite Warfare

Hoplites were civilian soldiers armed with shields

and spears

Earliest representation of Hoplite Warfare

developed 2-3 generations earlier

Represents the othismos of battle (moment before

the two armies collide)

Representation Inaccuracies

1. Soldiers aren't carrying short swords

2. They often carried two spears (a over hand thrusting spear and a spare or throwing spear)

Significance

1. Inaccuracies show artist's intentions were purely decorative

2. The frieze shows early forms of depth in artwork - overlapping

3. Represents a significant moment in warfare

4. Meant to represent something contemporary

Frieze 2.1: Horsemen and Chariot

Frieze shows four long haired, dressed horsemen riding bareback and each leading an extra horse

Ahead of them is a four horse chariot with a rider being lead by a nude man looking back over his shoulder

Most of the work would have gone into overlapping the horses

Significance

1. Each rider leading a riderless horse could mean they are squires and not jockeys - possibly for someone else on the vase

Frieze 2.2: Double-bodied Sphinx

Sphinxes are normally not harmful (innocuous) in Protocorinthian exhibition

Common in Protocorinthian works though never in narrative context

In Greek and common imagination they thought as to be destroyers of men and posers of existential questions - though no evidence of this in Corinth beliefs

Belief that it was Sphinxes that carried fallen men off the the acropolis of Mycenae could possibly have Corinth origins

Iconography of a Sphinx is Egyptian

Double-bodied iconography is Eastern

The double-bodied sphinx is a purely Corinth invention

The Chigi Vase may have the first representation of the doubled bodied Sphinx

Significance

1. The double-bodied Sphinx is purely mythical

2. When considered with the lion hunt could be be used to represent mortality or liminality

3. The combination of two imported iconography shows external influence imposed with indigenous ideology

Frieze 2.3: Lion Hunt

Following the sphinx is the representation of a lion hunt where four men are using spears to bring down a lion which has already mortally wounded one man with purplish blood spilling out of him

The fallen man is the only causality on the entire vase

It is unknown if Lions were present in the wild at the time with limitations on physical evidence to support the literary claim that there was not

The Lion design is probably the earliest example of Assyrian design on Protocorinth Vase Painting

Significance

1. Lack of evidence to support the presence of wild lions in Corinth suggests artist must have either seen one in captivity or on imported goods

2. Use of Assyrian design suggests high import influence in the area at this time - ivories, metalwork and textures containing the imagery

3. Combining the horsemen, chariot and lion hunt could be the imagery of a kings sporting hunt (similar to the palace reliefs of Nineveh or Nimred)

Frieze 2.4: Judgement of Paris

Represents the story of the beauty contest between Hera, Athena and Aphrodite, which Aphrodite won through the bribe of the married Helen of Sparta which os believed to be the cause of the Trojan War

Frieze contains (in order): Paris, Hermes, Hera, Athena, Aphrodite

Only image on the vase to contain women and mythical narrative

Hermes and Hera missing due to damage

Significance

1. Frieze suggests the occupier of the tomb was familiar with Greece and Greek mythology/language

2. Could be argued the frieze is meant to represent:

. Beauty - beauty contest

. Decision / warning to be careful - Paris' decision leading to the Trojan War

. Marriage - Paris' later involvement with the married Helen of Sparta

. Warning about the temptations of women

. The recent establishment of Aphrodite in Corinth

3. Themes of beauty, marriage and big decisions could mean it was meant as a wedding present

4. Image is placed under that of the Hoplite Warfare which could mean it was emphasising the Trojan War consequences

5. Placing under the handle could mean it was actually more of a space filler as oppose to a significant piece

Frieze 3: The Hare Hunt