Terracotta oinochoe (jug) 450 BC

This terracotta oinochoe (jug), dated to 450 BC, was created by the Athenian potter Polion. The vessel is decorated with a black-figure technique, depicting a winged figure riding a deer. The figure, potentially a god, is rendered in a stylized manner, characteristic of black-figure pottery, and the deer is depicted in a dynamic pose. The oinochoe, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a fine example of Athenian pottery from the 5th century BC, a period noted for its artistic innovation and the development of the black-figure style.