Terracotta column-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water) 360 BC

This terracotta column-krater, made by the Group of Boston 00.348, is a vessel for mixing wine and water. These vessels were often used in the symposium, a social gathering of men in ancient Greece. Painted in the red-figure style, the scene illustrates the story of Apollo's birth. Here, we see the newborn god, radiant and white, being attended to by various figures amidst a landscape imbued with classical symbolism. What’s interesting is how Greek art often intertwined the divine with the everyday, reflecting a culture where the gods were deeply integrated into human affairs. Consider how gender and class dynamics play out; the symposium, as a male domain, was also a space where social hierarchies were reinforced. This krater, therefore, not only serves a practical function but also acts as a canvas for projecting cultural ideals and narratives. It invites us to reflect on ancient Greek society, its values, and its complex relationship with myth and identity.