--- title: Bull Head Rhyton with Dancer & Tympanon author: Nathalie Choubineh source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/13519/bull-head-rhyton-with-dancer--tympanon/ format: machine-readable-alternate updated: 1970-01-01 --- # Bull Head Rhyton with Dancer & Tympanon _Authored by [Nathalie Choubineh](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/nathalie.choubineh/)_ ## Image File [![Bull Head Rhyton with Dancer & Tympanon](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/13519.jpg)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/13519.jpg) ## Image Caption Apulian red-figure drinking-vessel from c. 360 BCE, attributed to the Illupersis Painter of South [Italy](https://www.worldhistory.org/italy/) (active c. 375-350 BCE), The J. [Paul](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Paul/) Getty Collection, Malibu, no. 71.AE.196 Horn-shape drinking vessels are among the earliest finer artefacts developed in various civilisations. From the 2nd millennia BCE onwards, they appear in and around the [Near East](https://www.worldhistory.org/Near_East/) and Central Asia with zoomorphic heads shaped as boars, lions and lionesses, goats, panthers, and bulls. Following the defeat of the Persians by the Greeks in 479 BCE, Persian horn-pitchers of [gold](https://www.worldhistory.org/gold/), [silver](https://www.worldhistory.org/Silver/), and ivory were introduced to the Greeks and adopted by them under the name of *rhyton* (roughly meaning ‘pourer’ or ‘pouring vessel’). Ceramic *rhyta* from mainland [Greece](https://www.worldhistory.org/greece/) and its colonies in South Italy were often decorated around the neck with mythical scenes and characters related to wine-drinking, wine-[god](https://www.worldhistory.org/God/) [Dionysos](https://www.worldhistory.org/Dionysos/), dancing, and revelry. This bull-head rhyton is an example, displaying a female dancer, perhaps a maenad, dancing with a [tympanon](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tympanon/). ## About the Author Nathalie is a translator and independent researcher of dance in the ancient world with a focus on Ancient Greece and the Near East. She has published works in ancient dance, ethnomusicology, and literature. She loves learning and sharing knowledge. - [Facebook Profile](https://www.facebook.com/nathalie.choubineh/) - [Linkedin Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathalie-choubineh-035a8451/) ## Cite This Work ### APA Choubineh, N. (2021, March 05). Bull Head Rhyton with Dancer & Tympanon. *World History Encyclopedia*. ### Chicago Choubineh, Nathalie. "Bull Head Rhyton with Dancer & Tympanon." *World History Encyclopedia*, March 05, 2021. . ### MLA Choubineh, Nathalie. "Bull Head Rhyton with Dancer & Tympanon." *World History Encyclopedia*, 05 Mar 2021, . ## 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/6651/associated-with-the-iliupersis-painter-apulian-bull-head-rhyton-south-italian-apulian-about-360-bc/) by **[Nathalie Choubineh](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/nathalie.choubineh/ "User Page: Nathalie Choubineh")**. Submitted by [Nathalie Choubineh](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/nathalie.choubineh/ "User Page: Nathalie Choubineh"), published on 05 March 2021. 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.