Detail of a Terracotta Column Krater Attributed to the Agrigento Painter in the Metropolitan Museum, August 2019

Title: Terracotta column-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)

Artist: Attributed to the Agrigento Painter

Period: Classical

Date: ca. 470–460 BCE

Culture: Greek, Attic

Medium: Terracotta; red-figure

Dimensions: H. 17 9/16 in. (44.6 cm); diameter 14 3/4 in. (37.5 cm)

Classification: Vases

Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1915

Accession Number: 15.27


Obverse, Herakles slaying the Egyptian king Busiris
Reverse, the king's priests and attendants in flight

One of the numerous adventures of Herakles took place in Egypt where he encountered Busiris, a king who had been advised to sacrifice all strangers to Zeus in order to avoid drought. Herakles prevailed over Busiris and killed him and all his henchmen.

Text from: www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/248916