The kylix, or shallow wine cup was a table-top piece used at all meals. Many were highly decorated to adorn banquet tables and spoke of the good taste of the host. This kylix of Dionysos Crossing the Sea was painted by the famous 6th century artist, Exekias, and the original is found in the Museum Antiker Kleinkunst, in Munich.

The scene depicts a Homeric hymn of Dionysos’ first appearance in Greece. On his journey he was seized by pirates, and frightened the pirates away by making wine pour from his boat, and the mast spring with grape vines. The pirates jumped overboard and were turned into dolphins. Dionysos’ appearance in Greece as a striking young man with “flowing hair” was the beginning of the long-lasting Cult of Dionysos centered around the gift of wine that he brought.

The composition of this kylix is what makes it so attractive. The circle of dolphins on the lower half mirrors the curvature of the grape vines on the top half, and all circle around the mast, the only non-curved feature in the composition. The boat and sail are also curved nicely to fit in with the overall rounded scheme. There is attention to detail in the decoration of the god’s robe, and the lines of his head band and beard. More attention to detail is apparent in the rudders on the back of the boat, and the boat designed, fore and aft with fish features.

Exekias, by not differentiating between the sea and sky, adds to the other-wordly tone of the piece by making the boat appear to float in time. The eyes on the side are a characteristic that have shown up in other works of the artist. Ancient Greeks painted eyes on the front of their boats for good luck. They believed that a protecting god could see ahead through the eyes.

Exekias signed this vase around the red rim of the foot. “Eksekias epoiese” means “Exekias made this.”