Dipylon Amphora

750 BCE 

During this period amphoras were used as grave-markers.  The Dipylon Amphora depicts a genre scene of a funeral procession in Geometric style.  It exhibits horror vacui with many minute designs filling the negative space. The figures stand on the groundline among many registers.

Eleusis Amphora

650 BCE

This Amphora is also a grave marker, but shows the more naturalistic Orientalizing style.  It depicts a narrative scene of Odysseus and the Argonauts slaying the Cyclops and Perseus decapitating Medusa.  It is considered more naturalistic than the Dipylon Amphora because of its expressive faces and curvilinear lines.

Achilles and Ajax Amphora

Artist: Exekias

550 BCE

This amphora depicts Ajax and Achilles playing a board game using black figure painting.  In context it tells a more detailed story of two friends sharing an intimate moment before tragedy strikes.  While Achilles is winning the game, he is fatally relaxed, planting his feet flatly and holding his spears loosely.  

Achilles and Penthesilea Amphora

Artist: Exekias

550 BCE

Another Amphora by Exekias, this one depicting the narrative scene of Achilles falling in love with Penthesilia the Amazon as he kills her.  Exekias depicts her as a true warrior, but uses a simple style that can be seen from a greater distance than the artist of the Kylix of the same subject.

Achilles and Penthesilea Kylix

550 BCE

This kylix, or wide bowled cup, also depicts the moment of Penthesilea's death by Achilles' hands.  The red figure painting in this cup allowed for more details in the artist's image.  However, it is dissapointing that Penthesilea is not properly atired for battle in this representation.  This piece was meant to be seen closer up, which allowed for a more dense composition.

New York Kouros

550 BCE

This 6' marble statue was used as a grave marker or votive.  It pulls traits from earlier Egyptian statues, including the closed hand and the plaited hairstyle.  Though this piece is more naturalistic than its predecessors, many of the anitomical details are still applied to the surface, like a pattern.

Hera of Samos

550 BCE

This marble statue stands 6'4" without its head, and is from around the same time as the New York Kouros.  This piece is much more columnar and less naturalistic than it's counterpart.  There are a number of cultural reasons for this, including the importance of women to Athenian society and the use of clothing.  

Peplos Kore

550 BCE

This late Archaic period statue shows much higher skill and understanding of the female form than Hera of Samos.  However it still shows an Egyptian influence in the hand and hair.