---
title: Komast Dancers on an Attic Black-figure Cup
author: Getty Museum
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/12886/komast-dancers-on-an-attic-black-figure-cup/
format: machine-readable-alternate
updated: 1970-01-01
---
# Komast Dancers on an Attic Black-figure Cup
_Authored by Getty Museum_
## Image File
[](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/12886.jpg)
## Image Caption
Attic black-figure cup from c. 580-560 BCE, attributed to the Painter of Copenhagen 103, in J. [Paul](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Paul/) Getty Museum 79.AE.128. Komos-dancing was a common behaviour after a [symposium](https://www.worldhistory.org/Symposium/). The now properly drunk guests would rush out in a crazy dance that involved leaps and jumps and loose hand and arm shakes and gestures. This complex picture of drinking climax was a popular subject for decorating wine cups. It appears on many black-figure and red-figure cups and other ceramic vessels produced in the mainland [Greece](https://www.worldhistory.org/greece/) and beyond. In ancient writings, the word “komos” means a revel particularly in honour of [Dionysos](https://www.worldhistory.org/Dionysos/). It is an erroneous derivation of “kome” meaning an unwalled village, and, through its connection with the collective, mimetic, and Dionysian dance, became the root of “komoidia” or “comedy”.
## Bibliography
- [Smith, Tyler Jo. *Komast Dancers in Archaic Greek Art.* Oxford University Press, 2010.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0199578656/)
## External Links
- [Attic Black-Figure Komast Cup (Getty Museum)](http://www.getty.edu/art/collection/objects/8632/attributed-to-the-painter-of-copenhagen-103-attic-black-figure-komast-cup-greek-580-560-bc/)
## Cite This Work
### APA
Museum, G. (2020, October 15). Komast Dancers on an Attic Black-figure Cup. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Museum, Getty. "Komast Dancers on an Attic Black-figure Cup." *World History Encyclopedia*, October 15, 2020. .
### MLA
Museum, Getty. "Komast Dancers on an Attic Black-figure Cup." *World History Encyclopedia*, 15 Oct 2020, .
## License & Copyright
Digital image courtesy of the Getty's [Open Content Program](https://www.getty.edu/projects/open-content-program/). The Getty makes available, without charge, all available digital images to which the Getty holds the rights or that are in the public domain to be used for any purpose. No permission is required. [Original image](http://www.getty.edu/art/collection/objects/8632/attributed-to-the-painter-of-copenhagen-103-attic-black-figure-komast-cup-greek-580-560-bc/) by [**Getty Museum**](http://www.getty.edu/art/collection/objects/8632/attributed-to-the-painter-of-copenhagen-103-attic-black-figure-komast-cup-greek-580-560-bc/). Submitted by [Nathalie Choubineh](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/nathalie.choubineh/ "User Page: Nathalie Choubineh"), published on 15 October 2020. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Public Domain](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain). This item is in the public domain, and can be used, copied, and modified without any restrictions. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.