# Skythes

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Ancient Greek vase painter

[Komast](/source/Komos) on the *[tondo](/source/Tondo_(art))* of a [bilingual](/source/Bilingual_vase_painting) cup inscribed ΕΠΙΛΥΚΟΣ ΚΑΛΟΣ, *Epilykos kalos* ("Epilykos is beautiful"), *circa* 510/500 BC. [Paris](/source/Paris): [Louvre](/source/Louvre)

**Skythes** ([Greek](/source/Greek_language): Σκύθης, *the [Scythian](/source/Scythian)*) was an [Attic](/source/Attica) [black-figure](/source/Black-figure_vase_painting)[1] and [red-figure](/source/Red-figure_vase_painting) vase painter active between about 520 and 505 BC.

Modern scholarship considers Skythes as a kind of artistic loner, whose work cannot easily be categorised among the known workshops and groups. He signed four known *[kylikes](/source/Kylix_(drinking_cup))*. Further, another *ca*. twenty *kylikes* and two *[dinos](/source/Dinos)* stands are attributed to him on the basis of stylistic analysis. His early works were created a short time after the invention of the red-figure technique. On three [bilingual](/source/Bilingual_pottery) works he demonstrates his skill in the older black-figure style. Unusually, they feature red-figure paintings on the interior and on the outside black-figure on coral-red ground. Inside and outside each bear only one figure. He belonged to the first generation of vase painters to specialise in cups.

His figural images depict people in an exaggerated ugliness or brutishness, casting him, much in contrast to the norms then prevailing in Greek art, as a comedian, even a [satirist](/source/Satire). Especially his faces reflect an *outré* sense of humour. Perhaps this indicates, as does his name, that he was not a native [Athenian](/source/Athens), although he was well aware of the city's artistic repertoire. Although he was probably not a [Scythian](/source/Scythian), the (self-chosen) nickname appears to express a certain extravagance or individualism. Two *[pinakes](/source/Pinax)* with black-figure paint that were found the [Athenian Acropolis](/source/Athenian_Acropolis) bear the signature of a Skythes. It is assumed that they are also by him.

His vases occasionally bear the [*kalos* inscription](/source/Kalos_inscription) *Epilykos*. The [Pedieus Painter](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pedieus_Painter&action=edit&redlink=1) uses the same name, which has led some scholars to suggest that he is identical with Skythes towards the end of his career. On a vase by [Phintias](/source/Phintias_(painter)), the same *Epilykos* is depicted as an athlete. For some time, such vases were falsely ascribed to a non-existent painter Epilykos. The use of the name classifies Skythes as a member of the [Epilykos Class](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Epilykos_Class&action=edit&redlink=1).

## Bibliography

- Ricardo Olmos Romera: "Skythes", in *Künstlerlexikon der Antike*, p. 434-436

- [John Boardman](/source/John_Boardman_(art_historian)): *Rotfigurige Vasen aus Athen. Die archaische Zeit. Ein Handbuch*, von Zabern, Mainz 1981 (= 4. edn. 1994) (Kulturgeschichte der Antiken Welt, Vol. 4), [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [3-8053-0234-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/3-8053-0234-7) p. 67

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Acropolis Museum Guide (Athens 2015) [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-618-5120-01-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-618-5120-01-6), p. 168.

## External links

Media related to [Skythes](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Skythes) at Wikimedia Commons

- [Works at the Getty Museum](http://www.getty.edu/art/collection/artists/44/skythes-greek-attic-active-about-520-490-bc/)

v t e Ancient Greek vase painters Geometric Dipylon Master Orientalizing Analatos Painter Honolulu Painter Mesogeia Painter Polyphemos Painter Black-figure Painter of Acropolis 606 Affecter Amasis Painter Anagyrus Painter Anakles Arkesilas Painter Antimenes Painter Athena Painter Beldam Painter Bellerophon Painter Painter of Berlin A 34 Painter of Berlin 1686 BMN Painter Burgon Group C Painter Castellani Painter Cerameicus Painter Chimera Painter Class of Cabinet des Médailles 218 Columbus Painter Daybreak Painter Diosphos Painter Dodwell Painter Duel Painter Edinburgh Painter Elbows Out Euphiletos Painter Gela Painter Goltyr Painter Gorgon Painter Haimon Painter Heidelberg Painter Horse-bird Painter Hypobibazon Class Kabiria Group Kassandra Painter Kleitias Lion Painter Lydos Lysippides Painter Madrid Painter Mastos Painter Painter of Munich 1410 N Painter Naucratis Painter Nearchos Nessos Painter Painter of Nicosia Olpe Nikoxenos Painter Northampton Group Oxford Palmette Class Painter of Palermo 489 Panther Painter Perizoma Group Pholoe Painter Phrynos Painter Piraeus Painter Polos Painter Pontic Group Priam Painter Princeton Painter Psiax Ptoon Painter Rider Painter Rycroft Painter Sappho Painter Sophilos Swing Painter Taleides Painter Theseus Painter Three Line Group Tityos Painter Tydeus Painter Xenokles Painter Comast Group KX Painter KY Painter Group E Exekias Gorgoneion Group Cavalcade Painter Leagros Group Acheloos Painter Chiusi Painter Little Masters Group of Rhodes 12264 Red-figure Achilles Painter Aison Altamura Painter Amykos Painter Andokides painter Antiphon Painter Apollodoros Aristophanes Asteas Baltimore Painter Berlin Painter Painter of the Berlin Dancing Girl Brygos Painter Bryn Mawr Painter Chrysis Painter Codrus Painter Darius Painter Dinos Painter Dokimasia Painter Douris Eretria Painter Eucharides Painter Foundry Painter Harrow Painter Hasselmann Painter Hermonax Ilioupersis Painter Jena Painter Kerch style Kleophon Painter Kleophrades Painter Makron Marsyas Painter Meidias Painter Meleager Painter Niobid Painter Onesimos Oreithyia Painter Pamphaios Penthesilea Painter Persephone Painter Phiale Painter Pisticci Painter Pistoxenos Painter Polygnotos Providence Painter Reed Painter Shuvalov Painter Siren Painter Sisyphus Painter Skythes Snub-nose Painter Tarporley Painter Tarquinia Painter Tithonos Painter Triptolemos Painter Underworld Painter Varrese Painter Painter of the Vatican Mourner Villa Giulia Painter Wedding Painter YZ Group Pioneer Group Epiktetos Euphronios Euthymides Oltos Phintias Smikros Mannerists Pan Painter

Authority control databases International VIAF GND WorldCat Artists ULAN People Deutsche Biographie DDB

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