Greek Pottery: "Terracotta Loutrophoros" Descriptive Essay

This paper explains that "Terracotta Loutrophoros" (Ceremonial Vase for Water), from the Archaic period, which is now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a Greek black-figured funerary amphora that has two handles for carrying and an opening. Next, the author relates the way the vertical shape of the vessel is balanced by the horizontal narrative bands and the narrative scenes are placed in relationship to each other. The paper concludes that the figures, who are mourning the death of a youth, are able to portray their love for him thus making the vase not only a ritual object but also a work of art so descriptive that the viewer does not need a museum placard to understand the story.