Red-figure bell-krater

The main side of this Attic red-figure krater is decorated with a "komos" scene (return from a symposium). A girl musician plays the flute and two young males dance in a vivid manner. A third male with a stick follows the female musician, apparently unable to walk properly. The subject of "komos" was very popular among Greek and especially Attic vase-painters. It is frequently found on kraters, large open vessesl used for mixing wine with water and, thus, indispensable components of the symposium. On the other side of the vase, two male figures are shown in conversation while a third one is standing and listening. The krater is attributed to an important Attic vase-painter of the Classical period, conventionally known as the "Kleophon Painter", who decorated large vases (stamnoi, kraters, amphorae, pelikes) and had a preference for festive scenes, symposia and komoi.