Terracotta Lekythos (oil Flask) 500 BC

This 500 BC Ancient Greek terracotta lekythos, a type of oil flask, is a beautiful example of black-figure pottery. The vase depicts a scene of a battle between a warrior and a centaur, a mythical creature with the head and torso of a human and the body of a horse. This type of artwork was created by ancient Greek potters to hold and transport perfumes, oils, and other liquids. The lekythos is a slim, elegant vessel with a narrow neck and a rounded body. The figures are painted in black silhouette against a red-brown background, and the details are picked out in white and purple paint. The vase is a fine example of the high quality of ancient Greek ceramics.