The interior of this kylix (drinking cup) features a dynamic scene of Bellerophon battling the Chimera, a fire-breathing creature with the body of a lion, a goat emerging from its back, and a snake for a tail. In his right hand, Bellerophon holds the reins of his winged horse, Pegasus, which rears up to confront the monster. The hero is depicted in a kneeling pose, a convention in Archaic Greek art (circa 700β480 B.C.) to signify rapid movement.
The exterior decoration consists of three ornamental friezes encircling the underside of the bowl: a row of pomegranates with double petals, a series of upright tongues painted alternately in black and purple, and a band of broad upright rays. From the bases of the handles, horizontal palmettes extend outward.
Stemmed drinking cups like this one were a hallmark of Laconia, the region surrounding Sparta.
The artist behind this vessel has been identified as the Boreads Painter, who led one of Sparta's most prominent pottery workshops between 575 and 550 B.C. As with most Greek vase painters, his true name is unknown, and he is recognized solely by his distinctive style, especially his way of rendering figures and his signature use of pomegranate bands to frame interior scenes. The name Boreads Painter derives from one of his tondo designs, which depicts the Boreads, sons of the North Wind.
