---
title: Nikosthenic Amphora with Dancing Satyrs & Maenads
author: The Cleveland Museum of Art
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/12905/nikosthenic-amphora-with-dancing-satyrs--maenads/
format: machine-readable-alternate
updated: 1970-01-01
---
# Nikosthenic Amphora with Dancing Satyrs & Maenads
_Authored by The Cleveland Museum of Art_
## Image File
[](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/12905.jpg)
## Image Caption
Nikosthenic [amphora](https://www.worldhistory.org/Amphora/), c. 550-525 BCE, signed (under the handle) by Nikosthenes, attr. to Painter N., Thiasos Group, Attic, from Caere, [Etruria](https://www.worldhistory.org/Etruscan_Civilization/), The Cleveland Museum of Art, no. 1974.10 A group of Dionysiac dancers, seven satyrs alternating six maenads, lining up in the group-dancing format, a dance form often used to depict ancient [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) dances performed collectively, such as ritual and processional dances in religious festivals and choral dances at [theatre](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/theatre/). As far as we can understand from the Greek visual art, as well as classical writings, choral dances in ancient [Greece](https://www.worldhistory.org/greece/) often involved a uniformity of movements. However, the nature of Dionysiac dance is associated with individualism, improvisation, freedom, and ecstasy. Therefore, the satyrs and maenads who dance here are seen in a variety of gestures although the overall coherence of the dance form is still observed through the bent heads and torsos of the dancers. Nikosthenes is the name of the potter of this amphora, whose signature is incised under one of the handles. He is said to be an Athenian potter and trader targeting [Etruscan](https://www.worldhistory.org/Etruscan_Civilization/) markets in [Italy](https://www.worldhistory.org/italy/). Before him, the Etruscan ware were fully black or painted black. Nikosthenes not only exported various shapes of Attic black-figure ceramics to that region but made innovations in traditional vase forms. His amphoras, for example, had a heart-shaped body and wide, flattened handles stretched from the rim to the shoulder of the amphora. The painting on this vase is signed by N, hence the common name of Painter N, who again may well have been Nikosthenes himself.
## Bibliography
- [Nikosthenes Painter (Getty Museum)](http://www.getty.edu/art/collection/artists/731/nikosthenes-painter-greek-attic-active-athens-greece-510-500-bc/ "Nikosthenes Painter (Getty Museum)"), accessed 19 Oct 2020.
- [Provenance](https://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/XDB/ASP/recordDetails.asp?id=65D53D4C-AE0A-410B-B826-10FFBEF2A5F0&noResults=&recordCount=&databaseID=&search= "Provenance"), accessed 19 Oct 2020.
## External Links
- [Black-Figure Nikosthenic Amphora (Storage Vessel): Dancing Youths; Sphinxes and Lions; Satyrs and Maenads](https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1974.10)
## Cite This Work
### APA
Art, T. C. M. o. (2020, October 15). Nikosthenic Amphora with Dancing Satyrs & Maenads. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Art, The Cleveland Museum of. "Nikosthenic Amphora with Dancing Satyrs & Maenads." *World History Encyclopedia*, October 15, 2020. .
### MLA
Art, The Cleveland Museum of. "Nikosthenic Amphora with Dancing Satyrs & Maenads." *World History Encyclopedia*, 15 Oct 2020, .
## License & Copyright
[Original image](https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1974.10) by **The Cleveland Museum of Art**. 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.