Asteas Explained

Asteas (active between 350 and 320 BC in Paestum, Southern Italy) was one of the more active ancient Greek vase painters in Magna Graecia, practicing the red-figure style. He managed a large workshop, in which above all hydriai and kraters were painted. He painted mostly mythological and theatrical scenes. He is one of the few vase painters of the Greek colonies whose name comes down to us.

Selected works

• Berlin, Antikensammlung

Calyx krater F 3044 https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0043&query=Berlin%20F%203044

• Kassel, Staatliche Museen

Skyphos

• Malibu, J. Paul Getty Museum

Calyx krater 81.AE.78 (2006 als Fund aus einer Raubgrabung an Italien zurückgegeben) https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0043&query=Malibu%2081.AE.78

• Paris, Musée National du Louvre

Lekanis K 570 https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0043&query=Louvre%20K%20570

• Tampa, Tampa Museum of Art

Hydria 89.98 https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0043&query=Tampa%2089.98

References

• Arthur Dale Trendall. The red-figured vases of Paestum. Rome: British School, 1987.
• Erika Simon. Ein neuer signierter Kelchkrater des Asteas. In: Numismatica e antichità classiche. Quaderni ticinesi 31 (2002) 115-127.
• Erika Simon. The Paestan painter Asteas. In: Greek vases. Images, contexts and controversies. Proceedings of the conference sponsored by the Center for the Ancient Mediterranean at Columbia University, 23–24 March 2002 (Leiden 2004), p. 113-122.