This catalogue is conceived as a database which serves as a supplement to my article Spielende Krieger. Attische Kunstindustrie und männliche Wertewelt [Warriors at Play. Attic Arts and Crafts and Male Values, ]. It is also intended as an independent research tool for anyone interested in the subject. It builds heavily on the following compilations, which are listed in chronological order:
- F. Brommer, Vasenlisten zur griechischen Heldensage ³(Marburg 1973) 334–339; Denkmälerlisten zur griechischen Heldensage II. Theseus – Bellerophon – Achill (Marburg 1974) 84 f.
- H. Mommsen, Achill und Aias pflichtvergessen?, in: H. A. Cahn – E. Simon (eds.), Tainia. Festschrift Roland Hampe (Mainz 1980) 140 f.: Corrections and additions to Brommer’s list
- S. Woodford, Ajax and Achilles Playing a Game on an Olpe in Oxford, JHS 102, 1982, 181–184: A list of 124 Attic vases, organized according to the following five categories: Two warriors alone, (A) bareheaded or (B) helmeted, two warriors with Athena between them, (C) bareheaded or (D) helmeted, (E) two warriors with a tree between them
- H.-G. Buchholz, Brettspielende Helden, in: S. Laser, Sport und Spiel, ArchHom 3 T (Göttingen 1987) 143–177: 161 vases with 168 images (cited here as B 19–186), with short descriptions and extended bibliography, organized according to the following five categories: Two warriors alone on (A) black-figure and (B) red-figure vases, (C) two warriors with a tree between them, two warriors with Athena between them on (D) black-figure and on (E) red-figure vases
- C. Kunze, Der Alltag der Heroen – Zur Brettspielervase des Exekias, in: C. Reusser – M. Bürge (eds.), Exekias und seine Welt. Tagung an der Universität Zürich vom 1.-2. März 2019 (Rahden 2022) 91–94: Corrections and Addenda (24 vases) to Buchholz’ list (cited as N 1–24)
The present catalogue enlarges the known number by an additional 32 vases, bringing the total number to 217. The list is organized according to the following system:
– images with two players (without Athena: Type A), images with two players and Athena (Type B)
– – within these two categories: black figure, red figure
– – – within these two categories: vase shapes
– – – – within these categories: rough chronological order
Contrary to what has been said about the Greek hero Sisyphus, scholars usually take pleasure in bringing their work to a conclusion, even if the result is provisional. Inconsistencies are inevitable, given the fragmentary state of many vessels and the often incomplete nature of the existing documentation (missing photographs, missing or incomplete descriptions of images, contradictory inventory numbers, etc.). It would therefore be desirable to publish an updated version at a later date. Therefore, please help to extend this catalogue by sharing your knowledge!
Prof. Dr. Klaus Junker, kjunker@uni-mainz.de
Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität, Institut für Altertumswissenschaften, Klassische Archäologie, D-55099 Mainz
Notes on the use of the catalogue
- »Fr.«: Fragment/-s = The image is incompletely preserved
- »BAPD«: Number of the vase in the Beazley Archive Pottery Database
- Buchholz: Number of the vase in Buchholz’s catalogue or in the list of Kunze’s additions (see above)
- »bf«, »rf«: black-figure, red-figure technique
- Date: Dates are taken from the literature or are my own
- Attribution: These are taken exclusively from the literature, in most cases from J. B. Beazley (Attic Black-Figure Vase-Painters, Attic Red-Figure Vase-Painters), without claim to completeness
Vases for which I have found no reproduction and of which there is no description in the literature: cat. 20. 24. 67. 199. 181. 186. 198 200–204