Warrior vase also known as ‘House of the Warrior Krater’ found in the Mycenaean Acropolis 12th century BCE.
This vase was found in the Mycenaean period around the acropolis and was known as the ‘Warrior Krater’. Kraters were large vessels that were used to mix and dilute wine with water. This krater is well known because of the figures that are depicted along the side; the large krater depicts men in full armour. The men in the depiction are wearing helmets, cuirass, greaves, shields and spears as they are departing for battle. The men have a sack of supplies that are hanging from their spears.
Along with the men walking into battle on the side of the vessel there is a woman who is raising her hand to gesture to the men. According to the National Museum, the woman is either raising her hand as a farewell or as a mourning gesture. On the back of the vessel there are five men also walking into battle, however, again according to the National Museum, the men seem to be dressed in similar attire. The differences you see with these men are that they are wearing a different looking helmet and are raising their spears. The last depictions that can be found on the vessel are on its handles. There is a relief bovine head and pairs of painted birds upon each.
This vessel can be dated back to the 12th century BCE and was made with clay. Mycenaean Clay is well known to have been wheel made and are the best examples of being fine- textured buff clay. The pottery that was created by the Mycenaean’s such as the warrior Krater that is being discussed, were often self-slipped with different types of red and black paint. These Kraters and other types of pottery that was being produced during the Mycenaean period were often made by full time craftsmen in specialized workshops.
The kraters were often a typical item that was produced during this time and periods that followed, especially when we see the symposium developing in the Archaic and Classical periods. Wine as well as drinking wine was a clear past time of the ancient world so it made sense as to why Kraters which were made to mix the water and wine was a typical item found.
The Warrior Krater is a good example of what the Mycenaean’s found important in their society. The depictions of the warriors demonstrate how they viewed war and their warriors. According to Louise Schofield, when looking at these remains there is an overwhelming impression that the Mycenaean’s were fierce warlike people and they were glorified in battle. (The Mycenaeans, 2007) This is important because we see the depiction of men going into battle on different types of pottery for example the Warrior Vase.
Not only does the Krater give a glimpse into how they viewed war, it also gives a better understanding of how their warriors were expected to be dressed. The depiction shows the warriors wearing kilts which according to Rodney Castleden meant these warriors were of a higher status. It is argued that higher status warriors wear kilts with chequered braid and a fringe around them, which we see on the warrior vase.
I think if we look at the object more closely in person we can ask the question why did they choose to depict the warriors and what else can the warriors tell us about the Mycenaean culture? I am most looking forward to being able to see the handles of the vase in person to see a closer look at the bovine relief and the birds, in hopes to learn more about why the artist chose to paint both the birds and bovine and what the symbolism behind them are.
Reference list
National Museum
http://www.namuseum.gr/collections/prehistorical/mycenian/mycenian08-en.html
Castle, Rodeney. Mycenaeans; New York: Routledge, 2005
Schofield, Louise. The Mycenaeans. 2007
Feuer, Bryan. Mycenaean Civilization. 2004
