An ancient acrobat performs in this black-figure painting on a Panathenaic prize amphora from Rhodes.
This depiction of an ancient acrobatic performance is a black-figure painting on a Panathenaic prize amphora from Camirus on the island of Rhodes. It is Attic (Greek) and dates to the sixth century The scene is probably a hippodrome, with seats for the spectators on the sides. In the center two horses are in full gallop, guided by a single rider who looks round at an acrobat, who, with the aid of a springboard (seems to be beneath the horse's tail), has leaped on the back of one of the horses and with two shields is performing a martial dance, jumping from one to the other, to the music of a double flute. The acrobat is very small in proportion to the horses, but this is on account of lack of space. For the same reason, a groom who is loosening the sand in the ring is placed between the legs of the horses. On the left behind the flute player are the spectators, seated on tiers of are applauding loudly and one shouts, "Indeed he tumbles well!" On the right, a youth is climbing a pole—why is unclear. The performance would, from the fact of the vase being a prize, seem to be part of the Panathenaic games. The performers are acrobats and this form of Pyrrhic dance must have been a sideshow rather than part of the official program. The book dates to 1895.
Size: 6220px × 2838px
Photo credit: © Ivy Close Images / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
Keywords: acrobat, ancient, art, black, dance, figure, greece, greek, hippodrome, painting, panathenaic, performing, prize, pyrrhic, spectators, vase
