Who is shown on this Ajax Greek vase?

Greek letters name Ajax and Hektor beside two armed warriors. A bearded man in a blue-green cloak reclines between their shields.

What is white figure painting?

Painters coated the vase in pale slip and drew figures on it in outline and color. Athenian workshops developed it around 500 BCE.

Is this an ancient vase?

No. It is a hand painted copy made in Greece after pattern books of vases in Greek museums. The Greek Ministry of Culture applied the metal seal on the handle before export.

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Trojan War Greek White Figure Vase Imported from Greece 12H

Name: Trojan War Greek White Figure Vase Imported from Greece 12H
SKU: C009
Price: 495.0 USD
Availability: InStock

Trojan War Greek White Figure Vase Imported from Greece 12H

SKU:C009

$495.00 USD

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In stock

An Ajax Greek Vase Facing Troy's Champion

Two warriors face off on pale blue-green clay, and each carries a name in Greek letters. This Ajax Greek vase is a hand spun terracotta oinochoe from Greece. It stands 12 in tall. Helmets and sword hilts glow gold-yellow, and the crests flare red. Black marks the handle, rim, and foot.

Product Details

Material: Terracotta, hand spun on the wheel
Origin: Made in Greece
Certification: Greek Ministry pewter seal
Dimensions: 12 in H x 6 in W x 6 in L, at base 3.25 in x 3.25 in
Weight: 3.1 lbs
Original pattern: about 430 BCE, copy signed by P. Vaglis
Style: Attic white figure
Status: No longer manufactured, and this vase is over 30 years old
Product number: C009

Ajax and Hektor Named in Greek Letters

Letters beside the figures spell Ajax and Hektor. Ajax advances with a spear, a sheathed sword, and a round shield. A bird fills his shield. Hektor, the Trojan champion, wears a gold helmet with a red crest. His beard is black, and his shield carries an animal head. A tall Ionic column stands near them. Between the shields, a bearded man in a blue-green cloak reclines and raises a small jar.

As a Greek shield vase, it lets each round blazon work as a clue to the warrior.

The Duel in Book 7 of the Iliad

In Book 7 of the Iliad, Ajax and Hektor fight until night stops them. They part with gifts. Hektor gives Ajax a sword, and Ajax gives Hektor a belt. Later poets tied each gift to a death. The names on this Trojan hero vase may recall that duel. The painter shows no exchange, so the scene stays open.

White Figure on a Wine Jug

White-ground painting coats the vase in a pale slip before the painter draws. Outlines in red-brown and black hold areas of added color. This Greek white ground oinochoe is a wine jug with a wide, cup-shaped mouth. A handle with two spirals rises above the rim. Bands of tongue patterns and a Greek key meander circle the neck and shoulder.

Copied from Museum Pattern Books

This vase is a hand painted copy, signed by P. Vaglis. Workshops in Greece reproduce these vases after pattern books of pieces held in Greek museums. This copy is not one of a kind. It is very high quality and over 30 years old. The original pattern dates to about 430 BCE. Before export, the Greek Ministry of Culture applied the metal seal on the handle.

See more painted vessels in our Greek vase collection. You can also browse our Greek and Roman collection.

Display and Care

At 12 in tall and 3.1 lbs, this vase sits well on a shelf or mantel. Its foot is narrow, so keep it away from edges. Dust it with a dry, soft brush.

Athenian White-Ground Workshops

White-ground painting developed in Attica around 500 BCE. The soft color layers were fragile, so workshops used the style mostly for votive and grave vessels. It faded around 400 BCE.