Red-Figure Column Krater (Wine Mixing Vessel)

Ariadne, the daughter of the mythical king Minos of Crete, steps into a four-horse chariot. Dionysus stands behind the horses, holding a vine branch and a kantharos (wine cup). In Greek myth, he rescued Ariadne after Theseus, the Athenian prince whom she helped to defeat the Minotaur, abandoned her. Depicted on the other side are two athletes working with a trainer. The athlete on left holds a javelin; the other clutches halteres (jumping weights). The forked staff indicates that the clothed man in the center is the trainer.