The place
Attic and Magna Graecian ceramic collections featuring black-figure, red-figure, and white-ground techniques
Room III displays one of the most evocative collections of ancient ceramics, from the Civic Museum's holdings, the Giudice barons' collection, and excavations conducted by the Superintendency of Agrigento. Almost all of the artifacts come from the Akragas area and bear witness to the artistic ties between Sicily and the Greek world. The ceramics on display represent the three main decorative techniques of Attic ceramography: the black-figure technique, in which the decorations appear dark on a light background; the red-figure technique, which allows for greater definition of details through the contrast between the natural color of the clay and the black background; and the white-ground technique, which allows the use of multiple colors to enrich the scenes depicted. A significant example of the black-figure technique is the large amphora attributed to the painter of Dikaios, dated to the last two decades of the 6th century BC, which shows, on one side, a quadriga driven by Athena with Apollo, Artemis, and Hermes, and on the other, Apollo playing the lyre with his sister Artemis and his mother Leto. The decoration is enlivened by the presence of naturalistic elements, such as a fawn and a bird in flight. The collection also includes numerous red-figure vases and works by Magna Graecian artists, including Apulian, Lucanian, and Campanian potters, who brought to a close the production of ceramics inspired by Attic models.
Goblet krater with the lamentation of Patroclus, painter of Kleophrades
One of the most important pieces is a chalice krater attributed to the Kleophrades Painter (500-490 BC), a refined example of red-figure pottery. The main scene depicts the lamentation over the body of Patroclus, reclining on a kline, wrapped in a precious cloak and with his head reclined. Two comrades-in-arms support him, while two other warriors pay homage to the deceased. In the center, Achilles is depicted armed, ready to avenge his friend. On the opposite side of the vase are the funeral rites in honor of Patroclus, with dances and libations.
The episode depicted on the krater is crucial in the Trojan War. Patroclus, Achilles' closest friend, is killed by Hector while wearing the armor of Achilles, the Achaean hero. His death causes immense grief to Achilles, who decides to return to battle to avenge him. After obtaining new armor from Hephaestus, Achilles confronts Hector in a fatal duel before the walls of Troy. Hector, knowing he has no chance of escape, fights with honor but is defeated and killed. Achilles, blinded by rage, insults Hector's body by dragging it around the city walls. Only the intervention of King Priam, Hector's father, who begs Achilles to return his son's body, leads the Achaean hero to recognize his enemy's grief and grant him a funeral.
