Ancient Mediterranean

Digital Project

Two Double-levelled galleys

Cat. No.

A133a-b

Date

c. 725-700 B.C.

Findspot

Dipylon, Athens

Dimensions

H: 80 cm; L: 75 cm

Medium

Attic pedestalled krater. Painter of A522

Accession Number

Louvre A 527

References

Basch 1987: nos. 334, 335, 351; Kirk 1949: 100, 102-103, nos. 7a-b, 14, pl. 38.1, 40.1; Morrison and Williams 1968: 18, geom. 2, pl. 1e

A133a: Fragmentary double-levelled ship to the left, in the conventional Dipylon style, with all the verticals and horizontals present, including the tholepins. There are four short protrusions from the stem which represent extensions of timbers from stempost. The eye is filled with a sixteen-pointed star. There are nineteen preserved rowing rooms. A133b: Fragmentary double-levelled ship to the left in the conventional Dipylon style, with all the verticals and horizontals, but no tholepins. The eye is filled with an eight-pointed star. The horn is painted solid unlike the latticed detail of ship A. There are four short vertical protrusions on the forecastle which are probably belaying pins, but no latticed railing. The ship has a rectangular sail divided into small squares by horizontal and vertical lines, with the forward brace and a brailing rope preserved. The mid-section of the ship is missing, but part of the stern is preserved, consisting of the helmsman, the tip of the sternpost and part of the sail with the brace.

Monumental fragmentary pedestalled krater with naval battle scenes, as well as land processions of warriors on foot and on chariot. Ship A occupies the main upper panel between the handles, with a procession of warriors above. The central freeze below consists of chariots, while the lower frieze has another ship. The scene of Ship A includes a warrior facing right standing on the bow projection, equipped with two spears and a Dipylon shield. Behind him there are five corpses floating, stacked vertically. The three upper ones have their heads to the right, while the bottom two to the left. Five standing figures are preserved on the ship itself. Four of them stand on the same line as the tholepins, while the third appears to float, his feet slightly below the lower wale (line C). In front of ship B are two oversized warriors with Dipylon shields facing right and a bird in flight over the ship's bow projection.

Basch, L. 1987. Le musée imaginaire de la marine antique. Athens: Institut Hellénique pour la preservation de la tradition nautique.

Kirk, G.S. 1949. “Ships on Geometric Vases.” BSA 44: 93-153, pls. 38-40.

Morrison, J.S. and R.T. Williams. 1968. Greek Oared Ships: 900-322 B.C. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

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