Satyrs and Hetaerae: Looking for Gender on Greek Vases

Abstract

In looking for gender on Greek vases, we seem to be in a comparatively privileged position: the highly decorated surfaces, the sophisticated techniques in painting and firing, the striving for realistic depictions of the human figure, the development of what seems like an aspiration towards the creation of beautiful objects; all would seem to suggest that we are dealing with a self-conscious art-form; a gift to the historian who wants to look inside the mind of an ancient civilization. What is more, the apparent realism of much vase-painting reinforces the belief that the realistic representation of the outside world was the main ambition behind such painting. As a result, vases have been put to use to illustrate the daily lives of the ancient Athenians.

I owe debts to Stephanie Bird, Lin Foxhall, Stephen Halliwell, Barbara Rasmussen, the University of Birmingham Gender seminar (who heard a previous version of the chapter), and the audience at Exeter. I gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the Library of the University of Birmingham and the Trustees of the British Museum for providing photographs and giving me permission to reproduce them.