Terracotta Krater

By: Alex Chang

I have completed this assignment in accordance with the NA Honor Code
X_______________________________________
Alex Chang
5/18/2014
Ancient World
Legacy Project Essay
Ancient Greece vs. Modern NA
Preface
The Ancient World Legacy Artifact that will be focused on in this essay is the
Terracotta Krater, which originated from Ancient Greece, in the present day outskirts of
Athens. It is a form of a geometric vase, and originates from the Greek Archaic Era. Its
dimensions are 42 in height, and diameter 28 in diameter. The Terracotta Krater
was ultimately used as a monumental grave marker. The Eternal truth that will be
focused on in this essay is how respect, trust, and honor are the backbone of a strong,
ideal community. I ultimately decided to choose these two concepts because I wanted
to work on something that our class previously learned about and delve into the even
deeper meaning of the artifact.
Part I
Even since there were the first traces of humanity, humans have always had a
unique perception towards any other person. While diversity of thought is
understandable or even encouraged in society, there continues to be set guidelines
when properly acting with anybody, especially people whom you are not familiar with.
Respect, trust, and honor are primary components of this proper code of conduct. This
eternal truth is manifested within the Terracotta Krater. The Terracotta Krater was a
large vase made out of baked earth with no completely determined sculptor. I ultimately
chose to focus my essay content on the Terracotta Krater because I was awed by the
connections I was able to create between the Terracotta Krater and pop culture and
even within our Newark Academy community. The Terracotta Krater represents the
eternal truth of how respect, trust, and honor are the backbone of a strong, ideal
community because of its extensive historical context, specific role(s) in Ancient Greek
society, and what it symbolizes.
The Terracotta Krater originated from the Geometric period, which was a
massive era of growth for the Ancient Greek society. Especially during the Geometric
period, Ancient Greece revolutionized countless cultural aspects via epic poetry and
visual art. According to the MET Museum Website, The eighth century B.C. was the
time of Homer, whose epic poems describe the Greek campaign against Troy (the Iliad)
and the subsequent adventures of Odysseus on his return to Ithaca (the Odyssey).
1

Homers the Iliad and the Odyssey is one of the many examples of how the Greek
culture was revitalized. The profound legacy of the Iliad and the Odyssey is
unmistakable and will continue to amaze readers of all ages for centuries to come. The
Terracotta Krater is a representation of this magnificent era and especially represents
the concepts of the odyssey well. For example, in the first book of the Odyssey, Homer
establishes Odysseuss dilemma to the reader. Many cities of men he (Odysseus) saw
and learned their minds/many pains he suffered, heartsick on the open sea/ fighting to
save his life and bring his comrades home/But he could not save them from disaster,
hard as he strove
2
Homer is narrating about how Odysseus was the sole survivor of
a massive storm conjured by Poseidon and how the rest of his crew is dead. This event

1
Department of Greek and Roman Art. "Geometric Art in Ancient Greece". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History.
New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/grge/hd_grge.htm
(October 2004)
2
Odyssey: 1: 17-21
was emotionally very taxing towards Odysseus, especially after their recent victory in
the Trojan wars. Anyways, throughout the entire epic, Odysseus constantly pays his
respects and dedicates his journey to the men whose lives were lost at sea. This
eternal sense of respect is also shown in the focused burial scene depicted by the
Terracotta Krater, where people are paying their respects to the man about to be buried,
who is laying down in the center of the artistic artifact. Overall, the historical context of
Ancient Greece significantly supports the idea that the Terracotta Krater represents the
eternal truth of how optimal respect leads to a strong community.
The practical usages of the Terracotta Krater during the Geometric are also
critical towards understanding how it conveys the previously mentioned eternal truth.
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, Krater, also spelled crater, was an ancient
Greek vessel used for diluting wine with water. It usually stood on a tripod in the dining
room, where wine was mixed.
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However, this Terracotta Krater was not an ordinary
Krater. It was used as a monumental grave marker. It almost acts like a present-day
tombstone in grave yards. In addition to having similar functions of a tombstone, the
Terracotta Krater also served as medium for offerings of food and riches from the living
to the deceased. According to Khan Academy, The offerings that the living gave to the
deceased in one way symbolizes mourning and wishing the best for the deceased in the
afterlife. In another sense it is a gesture of respect towards the person whose is being
given the offerings.
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The Terracotta Krater gave the average Greek to accomplish
multiple tasks at once; mourn while showing respect towards the deceased by placing

3
The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. "Krater (wine vessel)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/323306/krater (accessed May 21, 2014).
4
http://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-history/art-history-400-c-e--ancient-cultures-1/ancient-
greece/v/krater--ca--750--700-b-c-e
the offerings within the Krater. The unique role that the Terracotta Krater plays in the
Ancient Greek society most definitely embodies the eternal truth that creating a
respectful environment leads towards a stronger community.
Finally, the profound symbolism of the Terracotta Krater absolutely confirms how
the Krater is a testament of respect leading towards a stronger community. First off, the
zone directly below the burial of the laid man shows a procession of chariots and foot
soldiers. According to the MET Museum official website, The figures (soldiers and
chariots) may refer to the military exploits of the deceased. Because hourglass shields
and chariots played a more limited role at this time than in the earlier Bronze Age, the
scene more likely evokes the glorious ancestry and traditions to which the dead man
belonged.
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The Bronze Age was when Ancient Greece shifted its focus towards
developing a potent military and eventually, creating a massive empire. However, since
the Terracotta Krater was sculpted some 200 years after the climax of the Bronze Age,
the military presence on the vase does not directly put emphasis on the glory of the past
military. On the other hand, the Terracotta Krater more accurately represents and even
honors the ancestry and past of the deceased man. On top of that, the detail in the
illustrations within the Terracotta Krater is very intricate with the cleanly presented lines
and shapes. According to Study Mode, The Krater is fully drawn with images, leaving
no space on the composition. Artists claimed to have fear of empty spaces, which
stressed empathy for the living. The design focuses more on the emotions and
happenings of the survivors, rather than what should be the main focus - the

5
The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Terracotta Krater.. http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-
online/search/248904?=&imgNo=0&tabName=gallery-label (accessed May 16, 2014).
deceased.
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The concept of the Krater shifting the focus of a monumental grave marker
from the deceased to the living is quite interesting. In a nutshell, the Terracotta Krater is
an artifact that simultaneously commemorates/honors the deceased (past) and living
(present). These profound qualities are what make the Krater significantly fascinating
and unique. Overall, the philosophical concepts that the Terracotta Krater exemplify
also speak true concerning how honor, respect and trust may disseminate a positive
effect on a given community.
Overall, the Terracotta Krater represents the eternal truth of how respect. Honor,
and trust create the foundation for the ideal community through historical context, the
role(s) it played in the Ancient Greek society, and even the profound concepts that it
represents. This eternal truth is not just prevalent in the ancient world through the
Terracotta Krater. Countless other artifacts, such as the national flag of a country, also
represent this eternal truth, which goes to show the beauty of diversity. In a broader
sense, the Terracotta Krater also shows how art is the harmonious manifestation of
thoughts and perception of the world.
Part II
Countless eternal truths from ancient world continue to make a lasting impact on
modern society. These truths are prevalent in national symbols of pride, pop culture,
and even places similar to Newark Academy. The eternal truth of how respect, trust,
and honor lead towards an ideal society is alive in the 21
st
century through the movie
300, the 9/11 memorial, Star - Spangled Banner, and the NA Honor Code.

6
"MET Terracotta Krater by Jcoppola." Study Mode. http://www.studymode.com/essays/Met-Terracotta-Krater-
39668380.html (accessed May 18, 2014).
The eternal truth of how honor, respect, and trust improve the quality of a
community is alive in the 21
st
century via movies. This statement especially holds true
for the movie 300
7
. 300 is a movie about the lives of 300 Spartan soldiers whom
defended their homelands against a Persian army tens of thousands strong. By
sacrificing their own lives in the process, they were the main reason Greece
successfully defended itself against the Persian Empire. The plot of 300 ultimately
relates back to the eternal truth because it shows how people making honorable
decisions improves the lives around them.
The eternal truth of how honor, respect, and trust create the ideal community is
alive in the 21
st
century with national symbols. The 9/11 memorial Commemorates
those lives lost during the 9/11 tragedy
8
. It is a manifestation of the American values
and how as a united population, Americans can overcome any obstacle and be
successful in a multitude of ways. The 9/11 memorial relates to the Terracotta Krater
because they both commemorate the deceased and preserve the honor and glory of the
people represented. It is the manifestation of respect while strengthening the
communities around it.
Finally, the Star-Spangled Banner and the Newark Academy honor code confirm
how the eternal truth of how the ideal community is composed of respect, trust, and
honor. The Star Spangled Banner is currently the national anthem if the United States,
and is a source of national pride. It describes the British siege on Fort McHenry and

7
YouTube. "300 - Official Trailer [HD]." YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrIbxk7idYAhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrIbxk7idYA (accessed May
17, 2014).
8
"Never forget: The 9/11 Memorial in New York City." BOOMS beat RSS.
http://www.boomsbeat.com/articles/1726/20140326/never-forget-the-9-11-memorial-in-new-york-city.htm
although the Americans were vastly outnumbered, they persisted with great honor and
defended against the British in the most unlikely of victories. The Newark Academy
honor code is a doctrine in our school stating the schools mission, values, and ideals
for the community
9
. With the honor code in mind, Newark Academy has become one of
the most prestigious schools of its kind in the nation. What these two seemingly
unrelated concepts have in common is they both are both living, breathing examples, of
the successes attained when the eternal truth is follow.
The eternal truth of how respect, trust, and honor create the ideal society is
prevalent today in the 21st century through movies, national symbols/icons, and Newark
Academy. There are countless other places and examples where this eternal truth is
alive and flourishing. Respect, trust, and honor will always be an essential component of
the human indenity.





Works Cited
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrIbxk7idYAhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrIbxk7idY
A (accessed May 18, 2014).
YouTube. "American anthem - Star Spangled Banner." YouTube.

9
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2014).
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history-400-c-e--ancient-cultures-1/ancient-greece/v/krater--ca--750--700-b-c-e (accessed May
15, 2014).
"Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History." Geometric Art in Ancient Greece.
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/grge/hd_grge.htm (accessed May 16, 2014).
YouTube. "Krater, ca. 750--700 B.C.E.." YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfu1LZ8LTU0
(accessed May 18, 2014).
"MET Terracotta Krater by Jcoppola." StudyMode. http://www.studymode.com/essays/Met-Terracotta-
Krater-39668380.html (accessed May 15, 2014).
"Met Muesuem." Terracotta Krater. http://images.metmuseum.org/CRDImages/gr/web-
large/gr14.130.14.R.jpg (accessed May 8, 2014).
"Never Forget." Booms Beat. http://images.boomsbeat.com/data/images/full/30281/9-11-memorial-new-
york.jpg (accessed May 17, 2014).
The Editors of Encyclopdia Britannica. "krater (wine vessel)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/323306/krater (accessed May 19, 2014).


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