The “Boxer Vase”

Conical libation vase (rhyton) with relief scenes in four zones.

It depicts pairs of boxers wearing gloves and special footwear, engaging in two distinct types of boxing, judging from the different helmets (with or without plumes and cheek pieces). Moreover, it represents pairs of wrestlers and bull-leapers – we can even witness the ill-fated leap of one athlete.

According to one interpretation, the different poses, such as the frontal attack (with punches to the face), the pursuit (one behind the other), and the victory (one kneeling in front of the other) are successive “episodes” of the match of a single pair of athletes in each zone.

The athletes are portrayed with narrow waists, long legs, and strongly muscled legs and torso. This is a comprehensive depiction of the main athletic activities that took place in Minoan Crete at its greatest height.