1966.06

Corinthian Miniature Kotyle

From the Woite collection; probably from the area of Gela, Sicily. Ht 3.7cm; diam. 9.5cm.

Intact but the surface is worn. Brown to black paint. On the rim is a band that is extended to run over the handles. In the handle zone, A and B, is a zigzag with lines below, then a broad band on the lower wall. No added colour is preserved. On the underside is a broad circle and central dot. The inside is painted solid.

This poorly-made miniature shows the final stage of the decorated kotyle in Corinth. Made in quantity for grave use, they account for a significant proportion of Corinthian fine ware in the later sixth and early fifth centuries, after Athenian potters had captured the market for pottery of better quality.

Compare Corinth. Results of Excavations conducted by the American School of Classical Studies at Athens (Princeton 1929-) XIII, pl. 40, 285/1 dated to the first half of the fifth century and the discussion ib. pp. 105 and 123. For examples, also from the area of Gela, see Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum Gela (2) pll. 25-26, and especially pl.25, 2, with the lists given in the text; and those from the cemetery at Morgantina, C.L. Lyons, Morgantina Studies V. The Archaic Cemeteries (Princeton 1996) nos 24-3 and 24-4 (pl. 57), 19-5 (pl. 54) and 31-51 (pl. 61): they provide good parallels for this piece. And then see further M.K. Risser, Corinth VII.5. Corinthian Conventionalizing Pottery (Princeton 2001).

For earlier Corinthian kotylai, note C. Ingoglia, Le kotylai corinzie figurate a Gela (Rome 1999). For the interpretation of other Corinthian at Gela, C. Lamburgo, “Per la storia di un mondo invisibile. Alabastra e aryballoi corinzi nella necropoli arcaica di Gela: esegesi di un indicatore infantile”, Orizzonti 6, 2005, 81-93.

For other material from the Woite Collection, see the section on Sicilian pottery.

See 1966.01-1966.42 in this catalogue for all material from the Woite Collection in the ANU collection.

J.R. Green with B. Rawson, Catalogue of Antiquities in the Australian National University, A.N.U., Canberra, 1981, 22.