Open Vessel: Pergamene Appliqué?

Part of lower wall of vessel.

Thin wall with thick appliqué slab increasing thickness to 0.5 cm.

A flat area at base may be where foot has broken away. Irregularly smoothed inside; apparently not wheelmade. Lower body of Skylla preserved: two acanthus leaves of her skirt and foreparts of two dogs. Each dog is biting a human figure in the midriff. The figure at left is upside down, his legs bent, his arms over his head. The figure at right lies towards the right with his knees drawn up. An outstretched arm is visible at upper left edge of fragment. Extremely micaceous, light red fabric (2.5YR 6/6) with many white inclusions and voids; shiny red glaze (ca. 10R 4/8), not adhering well.

For large-scale reliefs on Pergamene appliqué ware see PF II, E 11, E 12, pp. 96--97, pls. 23--24. The composition appears to be very close to that of the Skylla at Sperlonga; cf. Andreae and Conticello 1987, p. 19, pl. 4, fig. 5. For a list of representations of Skylla in various media see Tuchelt 1967.