Images and Labels in Ancient Greek Vase-Painting. Origin and Development of a Compositional, Narrative and Communication Strategy

Abstract

This paper considers some particularly important cases of inscriptions affixed to images to indicate the names of mythical gods and heroes, or to identify otherwise anonymous figures, a phenomenon known especially from vase painting. These cases are studied in light of the figurative subjects. In addition, objects with these inscriptions, often from different geographical and cultural locations, are analyzed in the context of their production and use. In this way, an attempt is made to reconstruct the compositional, narrative, and communicative strategies employed by artisans and/or requested by patrons.