Object of the Month: Eros Krater

In this month’s Discover and Create, we touch upon the importance of fine pottery to the ancient Greeks. At the Hellenic Museum, we have many incredible examples of illustrated pots. Discover one particular pot below — the Eros krater!

Eros krater, previously on display in the Death and Desire exhibition at the Hellenic Museum, Melbourne.

What does the shape of this vessel suggest about what it was used for?

In ancient Greece a krater was used for mixing wine and water. It was a staple of Greek dining, since the Greeks thought drinking unmixed wine was uncivilised. The name krater means “object for mixing.” It is also the origin of the English word “crater”, so the next time you see the pocks on the moon, you can think of the ancient Greeks using them to mix wine and water!

The Eros Krater is also spectacularly illustrated. What do you see?

The woman on the left hand side could be a number of people, but the winged boy on the right is none other than Eros, the god of love and desire! Here he is seen handing a wreath to the woman with one hand, and holding a drum in the other. The woman also appears to be holding a tambourine, and standing with her feet pointed, as if in the middle of dancing. It’s almost like they’re celebrating! So, what do you think they could be celebrating?

You can see the Eros krater online through the museum’s Sketchfab page below!

View the 3D Eros Krater on SketchFab