Another of the classic Greek vase shapes is the Krater, seen here. The function of the krater was to serve as a large mixing bowl for the dilution of wine (from an amphora) and water (from a hydria). In this famous example, by the Pan Painter, we see the goddess Artemis (at left) and the human Acteon (at right). Acteon, a young hunter, happened to come upon Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, one day while out stalking game with his hunting dogs. Artemis was bathing with her attendants, and was enraged at the effrontery of this mortal who would gaze on her nude body. She angrily turns him into a deer and makes him mute. His own dogs do not recognize him, and he cannot cry out to them, and they turn on him and attack. Interestingly, in this version of the story, the Pan Painter does not show the young man being turned into a deer, but instead, depicts him in human form, with his dogs tearing at his flesh.
Note the strong composition of the drama on this krater, and how skillfully the artist uses negative space. The two figures from a strong 'V' shape, which echoes the triangular nature of the krater form. The 'Pan Painter' is so named because of the painting on the reverse side of this krater featuring the god Pan.
Artemis and Acteon, by the Pan Painter
Greek Red Figure Krater, 470 BCE
