Lekanis (dish) with lid and finial, second half of 3rd century b.c.
Greek, Sicilian, Centuripe
Terracotta
Technical Glossary
Greek, Sicilian, Centuripe
Terracotta
24 1/4 x 24 1/2 in. (61.6 x 62.2 cm)
Fletcher Fund, 1930 (30.11.4a–c)
The elaborate vase belongs to a small class of vessels from Centuripe, a small town in eastern Sicily, where they were apparently made. It shows a characteristic combination of sumptuous and gilded high-relief decoration, imitating fine metalwork, and a scene painted with bright tempera. The front and sides of the lid depict a complex scene with several female figures around an altar. One figure holds a tambourine, an instrument often associated with the worship of Dionysos. In the handle zone, the head of Medusa or Hermes is flanked by Erotes amidst a floral scroll. The finial and base are decorated with shafts of wheat and leaves.
