Comparing Homer's Exekias And The Leagros Group

Ancient Greek vase painting is rich in content, it’s mostly about myths and heroic legends, to reflect Greece lives very broadly, such as war, hunting, manufacturing, home, entertainment, sports and so on. The styles of painting vase are very dramatic, humane with rich hospitality feeling to represent the beauty and elegance, in order to show the Greeks confident and optimistic spirit. I found interested on painter Exekias and the Leagros Group’ amphora with the same theme of Achilles and Ajax playing a board game. Exekias who was called the greatest black- figure artist, his black- figure technique is proficiency particularly on curving heroes. Moreover, he painted a scene of Achilles and Ajax playing a board game during a break in the Trojan

People- oriented ideology determines the ancient Greek literature. The Achilles and Ajax playing a board game painted by Exekias was more appropriate to represent the human kindness of Greek warriors during the lull of the Trojan War, because the whole view of the amphora is simple for audiences to only focus on the movement of Achilles and Ajax. Although both Achilles and Ajax left hands are holding two spears, their right hands are still attached to the chess board, their bodies are bended close to each other, there is a real interaction between Achilles and Ajax, and also a friendly relationship between Achilles and Ajax. There is a relaxation shows on Achilles and Ajax’ facial expression. Moreover, Exekias depicted only Achilles, who is the only warrior wearing the helmet, Achilles and Ajax took off their shields during the board game, which convey the impression of two Greek warriors giving respect to each other, especially for Ajax, he seems look he bended his body lower than Achilles’s