Terracotta lekythos (oil flask) with centaur battling a warrior 575 BC

This terracotta lekythos, or oil flask, depicts a centaur battling a warrior. Imagine the world in which this flask was made. A world of mythological creatures, of heroes and battles. It gives form to ancient Greek society's values and anxieties around civilization versus barbarism, human versus animal. Centaurs, with their dual nature, embody this tension. The scene suggests a narrative, perhaps a well-known myth, sparking reflection on the nature of conflict, and the line between man and beast. In its original context, this flask would have been functional, holding oil used in daily life or perhaps in funerary rituals, connecting the mundane with the mythical. Consider the emotional weight of this image. What does it mean to be caught between worlds, to fight for dominance? This lekythos preserves a moment of struggle, inviting us to contemplate our own battles, both internal and external.