Centuripe Class
Encyclopedia
The term Centuripe Class is used by archaeologists to describe a type of polychrome Sicilian vase painting
from the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC.
The Centuripe Class is named after ist main find location, Centuripe
. The painted vases shapes were usually pyxides
, lebetes
and lekanes. The vessels are large, measuring about 50 cm in height on average. They are composed of separately made segments of orange clay. The paintings were only applied on one side, using tempera
paints. They can include white, pink, black, yellow, red, gold, rarely also blue or green. The motif range is dominated by acanthus
garlands and architectural friezes, as well as heads and busts. The repertoire of figural motifs is limited virtually entirely to women, erotes
and weddings. The few exceptions include theatre scenes and gods, mostly Dionysos.
Sicilian vase painting
Sicilian vase painting was a regional style of South Italian red-figure vase painting. It was one of five South Italian regional styles. The vase painting of Sicily was especially closely connected with the Lucanian and Paestan styles....
from the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC.
The Centuripe Class is named after ist main find location, Centuripe
Centuripe
Centuripe is a town and comune in the province of Enna . The city is located 61 km from Enna, in the hill country between the Rivers Dittaìno and Salso.The economy is mostly based on agriculture...
. The painted vases shapes were usually pyxides
Pyxis
Pyxis is a small and faint constellation in the southern sky. Its name is Latin for a mariner's compass...
, lebetes
Lebes
The lebes was originally a type of ancient Greek pot, a deep bowl with a rounded bottom. It needed a stand, frequently a sacrificial tripod, to remain upright. In classical times a foot was attached, and it was typically used as a mixing bowl in food preparation...
and lekanes. The vessels are large, measuring about 50 cm in height on average. They are composed of separately made segments of orange clay. The paintings were only applied on one side, using tempera
Tempera
Tempera, also known as egg tempera, is a permanent fast-drying painting medium consisting of colored pigment mixed with a water-soluble binder medium . Tempera also refers to the paintings done in this medium. Tempera paintings are very long lasting, and examples from the 1st centuries AD still exist...
paints. They can include white, pink, black, yellow, red, gold, rarely also blue or green. The motif range is dominated by acanthus
Acanthus
Acanthus , in its feminine form acantha , is the Latinised form of the ancient Greek word acanthos or akanthos, referring to the Acanthus plant. It can also be used as the prefix acantho-, meaning "thorny"...
garlands and architectural friezes, as well as heads and busts. The repertoire of figural motifs is limited virtually entirely to women, erotes
Eros
Eros , in Greek mythology, was the Greek god of love. His Roman counterpart was Cupid . Some myths make him a primordial god, while in other myths, he is the son of Aphrodite....
and weddings. The few exceptions include theatre scenes and gods, mostly Dionysos.
