Title
A Roman silver kantharos
Year/Period
Late 1st century BCE-Early 1st century CE
Region
Gandhara
Material
Dimension
Object size: H:11.8 x Dia:12 cm
Accession No.
2011-02030
Collection of
This silver ‘kantharos’or deep bowl has a smooth inner interior but decorated in repoussé on the exterior. On one side, it features a young centaur holding a woman in his arms while on the other it shows a bearded centaur grasping a struggling woman with trees. It also features extensive inscriptions in pointille. Vessels in precious metal with mythological subjects were often made in pairs for use at symposiums, a tightly choreographed social gathering for male aristocrats. They take inspiration from wall paintings or literature. The scene depicted here was taken from the Centauromachy.
