Panathenaic amphora
Preisamphoren Panathenaic, Panathenaic amphorae also, are a special form of Attic amphora. They were filled with olive oil from the gardens of the Academy, awarded as prizes of gymnic ( sports ) and hippischen ( equestrian ) competitions at the great Panathenaic festival.
Probably Panathenaic Preisamphoren were awarded for the first time in the great Panathenaic festival of the year 566/65 BC. It is to this date, because at this time the games were fundamentally redesigned. Their predecessors were possibly the horse-head amphorae. The amphorae were awarded as victories prices to the 2nd century BC. The capacity of the vessels was standardized. It lies about three liters under the assumed Metretes of 39.4 liters. After wars temporarily amphorae with half or even one third of the usual capacity were made. The height was between 60 and 70 cm. For different disciplines have different numbers of Preisamphoren was awarded. So the winner of the chariot race and the runners in the shield piercing got 140 amphorae, nor an amphora.
The shape of the amphora combines the bulginess of transport amphorae (very bulbous, short, narrow neck, downward tapering ) with the common to the middle of the 6th century form of neck-amphora ( Eichinusfuß and mouth ). About 1500 amphorae were manufactured and awarded each party. The contract for the manufacture probably got a single ceramic workshop in the course of a competition. For the workshop such an order was both lucrative and prestigious. Today there are still about 1,000 amphorae or Amphorenfragmente handed, which is about one percent of the vases actually manufactured. The Burgon vase from the 560s years BC is considered stylistically earliest known representative of this group.
Special to the Preisamphoren is the retention of the Black figure painting style, even in a time when this was replaced since about 500 BC by the red-figured style. On the front of the amphora was for a long time always shown the same image: Athena Promachostypus as she walks to the left. Since 540/30 BC, this was supplemented by two Doric columns with top seated valves flanking the goddess. The taps should probably symbolize the fighting spirit. Perpendicular to the left column along was the mandatory price inscription ( " τὸν Ἀθένεθεν ἄθλον ", later " τῶν Ἀθήνηθεν ἄθλων " - " [ a ] of prices from Athens "). Since about 510 BC, the pottery workshop identifies the sign character of Athena. Both the shape of the amphora as well as the motif of the front was ostentatiously maintained largely unchanged for a long time. It was only in the 4th century BC saw the first major changes. The cocks were now replaced by annually changing symbols and the sign character of the pottery workshops lost their meaning. The amphorae get more feminine shapes. Between 392/91 and 312 /11, name of the responsible for the production of the amphorae and their filling Archon was mentioned in inscriptions. Therefore vases are exactly dated from this period. For later times rarer other persons are mentioned inscriptions, such as the treasurer ( Tamias ) or the judge ( Agonothes ). Since 363/62 Athena does not proceed more to the left but to the right. In the further time " is archaic [ the design ], towards the end of the series with hybrid degeneracy ".
On the back of the amphora competitions were shown in which the prize was won. The style of these drawings is adapted differently than that of the respective front fashion trends. Since the middle of the 5th century BC, award ceremonies are pictured next to the competitions to come since the mid-4th century BC plus personifications as Niken.
Preisamphoren were found inside and outside of the Greek world, which suggests the possibility of resale. In many amphorae were dedicated in sanctuaries as offerings, in Taranto you ever found a vase at the four corners of a sarcophagus, another known copy in the temple of Athena Chalkioikos in Sparta. For 415 BC is known that about 100 Preisamphoren from the possession of Alcibiades and other Hermenfrevler for half a drachma, the units have been sold.
Several important vase painters are known as a painter of Athens Panathenaic Preisamphoren, including Exekias, the swing - painter, painter of Leagros, Kuban and Hobble Group, Eucharides painter and Kleophrades painter. Unsure in the assignment are amphorae by the Berlin artist and the Achilles Painter. The potter Sikelos was the first who has left his name on an amphora. Once a favorite inscription is busy, after the Euphiletos Painter got his Notnamen.
- Panathenaic amphora (Berlin F 1832)
- Panathenaic amphora (London B 130) (so-called Burgon amphora )
- Panathenaic amphora (London B 144)
- Panathenaic amphora (Sparta )