Column krater (mixing bowl) depicting a departure scene (A); a komos (B),

ca. 530–520 BCE

This large krater was designed for mixing water with wine, which was essential to the preparation of the beverage before imbibing it during the symposium, or elite ritual drinking party. At the event, one or more kraters would have been prominently set up, containing within them all the wine that the symposiasts would consume during the evening. Warriors depart for battle on one side of the vessel: one figure steps up into a chariot while the others stand fully armed. The elite men who participated in a symposium would have been familiar with such scenes from their own experiences of preparing and leaving for battle. On the other side, five nude male figures dance energetically, presumably to music that is being played outside the frame of the scene or within the sympotic gathering.