Attic Red-Figure Column Krater (Side A)

A. Offerings at altar and herm. At left, a bearded man stands to right before a herm. He is nude except for a himation tied around his waist. He holds a kylix in his right hand and a sacrificial basket (kanoun) in the left; the handles of the kanoun are in a three-horned form. The ithyphallic bearded herm stands on a two-step base facing left. Next to it is an altar with volutes and decorated by a band with black dots beneath. An epipyron (fire pan) is placed on top of the altar, and there are flames as well as traces of blood on the side. At the right stands a youth wrapped in a himation with his right shoulder nude. Depicted with frontal chest, legs and head in profile and moving to right looking back, he holds a long staff in his right hand.

B. Two youths flank a pillar. Both are wrapped in himatia and lean on staffs. The himation on the youth at left leaves his left shoulder nude. The pillar between them, standing on a base and decorated with dots on the upper part, supports a dinos.

Rim slightly convex on top with a vertical overhang; a flat handle plate extending beyond the rim at each side is supported by two columns; ovoid body; ogee foot with a convex molding marked off by grooves at the join to body. Top of rim black. Overhang of the rim on side A decorated with double row of ivy leaves in black glaze between lines; double row of dots on B. On neck: A, black dotted chain of hanging lotus buds between two black lines in a reserved panel; B, black. Figural decoration on the body set in panels framed by tongue pattern on the shoulder at junction with neck on A and B, and by double row of ivy between black lines at the sides on A; on B, double row of dots. Reserved line for ground; another between bowl and foot. Outside foot black, except for lower part. Resting surface and underside of foot reserved. Interior black, worn on the mouth, and heavily encrusted in the body.