Terracotta lekythos (oil flask) 460 BC

This terracotta lekythos, an oil flask, was created by the Athenian potter Hermonax in 460 BC. The red-figure technique, a style of Greek vase painting, is depicted on the body of the lekythos and portrays a woman holding a staff and snake, possibly representing the goddess Athena. This lekythos is a fine example of the transition from the Archaic to the Early Classical period in Greek art. Its decorative elements, such as the geometric patterns and the intricate detail of the figures, reveal the skilled craftsmanship of Hermonax, a key figure in the history of Athenian ceramics. The lekythos is currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.