Red-figure psykter, signed by Douris, ca. 500–470 BCE. London, British Museum 1868,0606.7. Thi

Red-figure psykter, signed by Douris, ca. 500–470 BCE. London, British Museum 1868,0606.7.

This is my personal favorite piece of Greek art! Its full of peculiarities, like the satyr wearing a patterned chlamys and Thracian boots while carrying a kerykeion. He is meant to parody the god Hermes, which is something Douris tends to do. 

The vessel itself is also quite extraordinary! It seems likely that it would have been filled with ice and then placed into a krater in order to chill wine. This shape, however, was only produced for a few decades, during the transition from the sixth into the fifth century.