The "Kylix of Apollo" is an Attic white-ground kylix featuring a depiction of the god Apollo. It was discovered in a grave beneath the Archaeological Museum of Delphi. Dating to around 460 BC, this kylix illustrates Apollo pouring a libation.
The kylix (κύλιξ in ancient Greek) was the most common type of cup in antiquity. The term kylix, meaning "cup" in ancient Greek, can refer to both a drinking vessel and the cup shape of a flower. A typical kylix consists of a shallow, round bowl with a thin stem beneath it and a rounded base. The two looped handles on opposite sides of the bowl facilitate easy handling.
Kylikes (the plural of kylix) are particularly famous for their association with symposiums and wine. Sets of kylikes typically complemented kraters, which were vessels used for mixing wine. Their short, broad shape allowed for reclining while drinking, minimizing the risk of spills. The looped handles also enabled guests to engage in the game of kottabos.
Style
The white-ground style of pottery used for the Kylix of Apollo, characterized by figures appearing on a white background, developed in Attica around 500 BC. This white or light background was achieved by applying a slip of kaolinite to the pottery. White-background ceramics were primarily made for ritual and funerary purposes, as the painted surface was more delicate than in other main techniques.
The depiction of the God
In the kylix, Apollo is depicted wearing a white sleeveless chiton fastened with pins at the shoulders, along with a red himation wrapped around the lower part of his body. He sits cross-legged on a stool, adorned with a myrtle wreath that decorates his loosely bound hair.
Apollo pours a libation with his right hand from a bowl while holding a seven-stringed lyre, whose soundbox is crafted from turtle shell, in his left hand. A raven observes the scene, which may allude to the myth of King Phlegyas's daughter Koronida (from the Greek "korone," meaning "raven"), who was in love with Apollo. However, some scholars suggest that the bird simply symbolizes prophetic powers.
This scene evokes the verse from the second hymn to Apollo, inscribed on the southern wall of the Treasury of the Athenians: "Sing for the gold-haired Pythios, who aims far with his bow and arrow and plays the lyre beautifully."
The Kylix of Apollo is attributed to an unknown artist, though some scholars associate it with the so-called Berlin Painter.
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The emplacement of the Column of the Naxians inside the Sanctuary of Apollo
Kottabos (κότταβος) was a game of skill played at symposia, especially in the 6th and 5th centuries BC. It involved flinging wine-lees (sediment) at a target in the middle of the room. The winner would receive a prize (κοττάβιον or "kottabion"), comprising cakes, sweetmeats, or kisses.
