Detail of a Kylix with Zephyros and Hyakinthos by Douris in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, October 2009

Drinking cup (kylix) depicting an erotic scene of Eros and a youth
Greek, Late Archaic Period, about 490–485 B.C.
Douris

Place of Manufacture: Athens, Attica, Greece

Dimensions: Height: 7.9 cm (3 1/8 in.); diameter: 21 cm (8 1/4 in.)

Medium or Technique: Ceramic, Red Figure

Classification: Vessels

Catalogue Raisonné: Caskey-Beazley, Attic Vase Paintings (MFA), no. 127.

Accession Number: 95.31

Cup interior tondo composition: A winged beardless male, most likely Eros, lifts a youth off the ground in a tight embrace. Most likely intended as a horizontal composition wherein the youth is lifted off the earth, indicated by the floral ornament. One hand grasps the youth's thigh and the other arm encircles the youth's shoulder. The scene, an erotic embrace (in Greek, symplegma) of Eros and a handsome youth, belongs to a group referred to as courtship scenes found on ...late Archaic red figure vases.

Another interpretation of this scene is that of a Hyakinthos, a mortal boy of great beauty, and Zephyros, god of the west wind.

The tondo is encircled by a frieze of palmettes.

Below, and partly surrounding the figures, the inscription: "Douris painted it; Chairestratos is handsome" (DORISEGRAPHSEN:XAIRESTRATOSKALOS)

Exterior is undecorated.

Condition: Restored with some restoration not affecting the figures.

Text from: www.mfa.org/collections/object/drinking-cup-kylix-depicti...