1. THE FRANCOIS VASE. By Gabby and Moira.
IMPORTANT: Please switch off all mobile phones and refrain from any loud eating. Also we ask for all rubbish to be disposed of sensibly. Have a sunny day.

2. Attribution details When: 570BC Size: 66cm (height) Potter: Ergotimos
Painter: Kleitias
Both the potter and the painter signed their names around the centre of the chief frieze - ‘Ergotimos/Kleitias made me’

3. The shape Handles joins vase from third band of body to top of rim
Volute krater for mixing wine and water at symposiums
Revolutionary shape and decoration - earliest example
Handles joins vase from third band of body to top of rim
Curled handles (volutes)

4. Composition
270 human and animal figurines (121 inscribed with names) squeezed into six bands
Rows of mythological creatures: griffins, sphinxes, gorgons
Exotic vegetal motifs: lotus and palmette (Orientalising period)
Empty spaces filled (labels or objects)

5. Composition
Painted decoration directly inspired by Corinthian miniaturist style that was in vogue during Orientalising period
Differs from the Lydos Column Krater:
The Francois Vase has several small friezes packed with figures whereas the Lydos is one large, elegantly painted narrative where figures are arranged in a more formal composition.

6. Decoration on Handles Under the handle of the vase
Ajax carries the dead Achilles
Painter has intricate knowledge of myths and literatures, particularly scenes of the Trojan War (Homer: Illiad)

7. SIDE A 1. Calydonian Boar Hunt 2. Funeral Games of Patrocles
3. Marriage of Peleus and Thetis
4. Pursuit of Troilus
5. Griffins
6. Decorative: Rays
7. Battle of Pygmies and Cranes

8. Side A – First Band (neck) 1. Calydonian Boar Hunt

9. Bent Knees, it is being attacked from behind
King Oeneus insults Artemis by not sacrificing to her  she sends Boar to Calydon  Boar ravages countryside people take refuge in city and begin to starve  Meleager gathers band of heroes (Peleus and Atalanta)
Boar losing:
Bent Knees, it is being attacked from behind
The hunters are running at the boar from both sides, spears raised, ready to attack
King Oeneus (wine man) of Calydon (ancient city, wet-central greece) had insulted Artemis by not sacrificing to her. Artemis sent the Calydonian boar to destroy Calydon. It rampaged throughout the countryside, destroying vineyards and crops, forcing people to take refuge inside the city walls, where they began to starve.
The king sent his son, Meleager, to gather a band of heroes to hunt the boar. This included, Peleus and Atalanta, who delivered the first blow, then Meleager finished it off.
Atalanta – white skin
Peleus – Beardless, suggest youth

10. Side A - second band (neck) 2. Funeral games of Patroclus
Myth behind the games: Achilles refused to help Agamemnon and the Greeks fight. His best friend Patroclus did want to fight so secretly borrowed Achilles’ armour but he was killed in battle. Achilles was grief stricken by the death of his best friend and held magnificent funeral games in his honour.

11. Funeral games
This scene is connected thematically with the death of Achilles under the handle of the vase – Ajax carries the dead Achilles, soon after death of his friend Patroclus.
Narrative technique:
Show of direction – Achilles and horses are all going in the same direction which gives the idea of a procession.
Movement – the horses’ front legs are lifted in mid-air, indicating forward movement.
NB: The item beneath the horse’s legs is a tripod – a bowl on three legs.
It was placed there as a prize for the winner of the games and also to fill empty space below the horse.

12. Side A and B (around whole vase) – Third band 3
Side A and B (around whole vase) – Third band 3. Marriage of Peleus and Thetis
All the major gods are visiting newlyweds Peleus and Thetis. The myth is that Zeus and Poseidon had both wanted to marry Thetis but they heard a prophecy that her son would overthrow his father. So they married her to Peleus who was a mortal, and their son was Achilles – the greatest hero of the Trojan War.

13. Marriage of Peleus and Thetis
Dionysus is also shown at the marriage ceremony and can be identified by:
He carries a wine jug
Vine branch above him
3 female figures to his left – personified seasons
It is fitting that he appears in this scene as god of joyful celebrations.
Flesh of females:
The flesh of females in Ergotimos’ Francois Vase is white, whereas Lydos’ were black.

14. Side A – Fourth Band (body) 4. Pursuit of Troilus by Achilles
Prophecy: Troy would not fall is Troilus reached his 20th bday  Achilles waited by Fountain house (urged on by Athena and guarded by Hermes)  Troilus fled to sanctuary of Apollo  Achilles killed him on the Altar = Apollo helped Paris kill him later
Prophecy: Troy would not fall is Troilus reached his 20th bday  Achilles waited by Fountain house (urged on by Athena and guarded by Hermes)  Troilus fled to sanctuary of Apollo  Achilles killed him on the Altar = Apollo helped Paris kill him later
Achilles is seen in several scenes in the vase. This is the earliest event in the Trojan war. There was a prophecy – Troy would not fall if Troilus, son of Priam, reached his 20th birthday. Achilles, urged on by Athena and guided by Hermes, waited by the fountain house to catch Troilus. Troilus fled on horseback to the sanctuary of Apollo, but it was on the altar there where he was slaughtered by Achilles. Apollo never forgave Achilles – later helped Paris kill him.

15. Workbook info – Pursuit of Troilus (pg 7)
Linked to funeral games held by Achilles for Patrocles
Seated figure is King Priam (father of Troilus)
He is old because: holding a staff, and bearded with with long hair
Extra narrative technique:
Youth collects water from the fountain house
Troilus is riding a horse and only part of Achilles is shown
Brothers, Hector and Polites, prepare to go out and help Troilus, can be seen leaving through the door.

16. SIDE B 1. Theseus – liberation dance 2. Battle: Centaurs and Lapiths
3. Marriage of Peleus and Thetis
4. Return of Hephaistos
5. Lion vs Stag & Lion vs Bull
6. Decorative: Rays
7. Battle of Pygmies and Cranes

17. Side B – First band of Neck 1. Theseus – liberation dance
Legend of Theseus:
Athenians were forced by King Minos to send a tribute of seven youths and seven maidens to be exposed to the minotaur in his Labyrinth. After slaying the monster, Theseus led them all out with a ball of string from Ariadne (Minos’ daughter). Then he and the fourteen celebrate their deliverance with a dance.
In this scene Phaidimos jumps overboard of ship (triakonter) and another swims to the beach to join the dance.

18. Side B – Second Band (neck) 2. Battle Between the Lapiths and Centaurs
The Centaurs were invited by the Lapiths to the wedding of King Pirithous. However the Centaurs became quite drunk and tried to carry off the bride and women of the Lapiths. King Pirithous pursued them, along with others including Theseus the dashing Hero that he was), the defeated the Centaurs who were then forced to live in the forbidden forest of Italy. Later the save Harry in his quest for the Philospher’s stone.

19. Side B – fourth band (body) 4. Return of Hephaestus
Hephaestus was rejected from Mt Olympus by his mother, Hera because he was a cripple. In this scene he rides a donkey following Dionysus who got him drunk and convinced him to return to Mt. Olympus.
The half-man half-goats are satyrs which are associated with Dionysus.
Narrative technique:
The first satyr is bent over with the weight of his load
(Drunken?) Smile on Hephaestus’ face
All figures face the same direction - procession

20. Side A and B - (base/foot of vase) 5. Battle of Pygmies and Cranes
This scene is one of the earliest known depictions of ‘The Geranomachy’ – battle between pygmies and cranes. Pygmies were armed with slings and sticks, and are known to be from Africa, India or Scythia. According to Homer – cranes fly to the southern stream of the ocean to attack the pygmies.