Black-Figure Small Lekythos depicting Theseus and the Minotaur
After an Attic original, ca. 560–520 BCE – sold by Royal Athena Galleries
A faithful reproduction of a black-figure lekythos, this small vessel captures the moment Theseus slays the Minotaur — a scene that resonated deeply with Athenian values of the late Archaic period.
More than a heroic exploit, the image symbolizes the triumph of reason over savagery, and civic order over chaos — ideals central to the rise of Athenian democracy. From the reforms of Solon to the political legacy of Kimon, Theseus emerged as the emblematic Athenian hero, embodying unity, justice, and cultural identity. The Minotaur, trapped within the Labyrinth, came to represent the dark, irrational forces Athens strove to overcome through law, ritual, and civic pride.
This vessel reflects both artistic ingenuity and the protective symbolism embedded in early Athenian pottery.
Dimensions H: 14cm, Rim D: 3,2 cm Max L: 6,5cm