Half-man and half-horse, centaurs were savage woodland creatures that revelled in hunting, drinking, fighting and sex. Although brutal in nature, they were also renowned for their bravery and camaraderie in battle, making them worthy opponents.
Centaurs are a recurring theme in Greek and Roman mythology and art, especially from early in the fifth century BCE when they came to symbolise a potent new enemy: the Persians. While the Greeks struggled to overcome the Persian invaders in the real world, mythical heroes battled with the barbaric centaurs in the world of art.
What is most unexpected about this refined lip-cup is the lively and elegant style of the decoration, which belies the wild nature of the centaurs on it. Two miniature centaurs on one side are chasing two figures on the other, a man and a youth, who gesture expansively. Three of the figures brandish rocks, the fourth a spear. This was a wine cup and the inscription below the figures encourages the user to ‘be of good cheer and drink well’.
