Kraters

Large open containers used for mixing wine and water during the symposium. In Greek settlements overseas, kraters were also used as containers of the ashes in burials.

The column-krater is the earliest type of krater. It is named after its column-shaped handles and was introduced to ~Athens from Corinth.

The volute-krater is known in clay from about 570. It takes its name from the form of the handles which spiral into volutes.

The earliest known Athenian clay calyx-krater was made by Exekias (c. 530), who may have invented the shape. The name derives from the handles which resemble the calyx of a flower.

The bell-krater, named after its bell-shaped body, may haved been invented by the Berlin Painter at the beginning of the fifth century.

Athenian ~red-figure column-krater ht. 35cm.	Athenian ~red-figure calyx-krater ht. 39.5cm
Athenian ~red-figure volute-krater ht. 46.5cm.	Athenian ~red-figure bell-krater ht. 35cm.

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