Greek, Attic / c. 480–470 BCE
Red-Figure Lekythos (Oil Vessel): Warrior Cutting Hair
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Red-Figure Lekythos (Oil Vessel): Warrior Cutting Hair as ceramic (Greek, Attic · c. 480–470 BCE).
The painter lavished great detail on this warrior’s armor, even including a lion on his helmet’s cheekpiece!
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this ceramic as ceramic and credits Oionokles Painter (Greek, Attic, active c. 480–460 BCE).
The museum's collection notes: Whether cutting his hair or combing it, this solitary warrior seems to be contemplating his fate. If mythological, he may be Parthenopaios or another of the ill-fated Seven Against Thebes, a band of warriors tasked with overthrowing that central Greek city. The Seven left mementos for their loved ones before departing, and he may be cutting a lock of hair for this reason. The same motive might apply to historical soldiers as well, and he may represent one of the many Greeks who battled the Persians around the time this vase was made. Unfortunately, the inscriptions painted on either side of the figure seem to be nonsense—actual Greek letters
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtRed-Figure Lekythos (Oil Vessel): Warrior Cutting HairOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.