Lot Essay
On the lid of this large lekanis, encircled by a band of black laurel and berries, is a deer running to the left and a winged griffin running to the right, with a winged Siren playing the double pipes, separated by scrolling tendrils. Details throughout are punctuated by added white and yellow. Sirens are relatively rare in Paestan red-figure, and can be shown either as a bird with a human head, or, as here, with a bird body joined to a winged human torso. For the two types, see no. 2/620 and 2/619 in A.D. Trendall, The Red-figured Vases of Paestum.