Exekias.  Achilles and Ajax playing a dice game.  540-530 BCE.  Vase painting.  

Exekias.  Achilles and Ajax playing a dice game.  540-530 BCE.  Vase painting.  40cm high.  Vatican Museum, Vatican City.

First of all, I love that they played dice games back in ancient times.  Secondly, this piece utilizes simple techniques of elements of design to convey so much.  The spears are lines, the eyes are directed to implied lines, the helmets as well.  I love that the artist creates such a beautiful work of art with somewhat simple techniques and the black-figure seems so intricate with the designs on their capes.  This piece inspires me every time I see it.  You can even see the stylized armor kinks near their knees.  I want to be able to have such a style to my own work.