Outstanding Hellenistic art in the tombs at Derveni

Outstanding Hellenistic art 

in the tombs at Derveni

A testament to the artistic and cultural grandeur of the Hellenistic period which predates the Rococo period by approximately two thousand years the surviving Rococo remains one of the most complex and significant This gleaming golden krater is a unique artifact and holds significance in the myth of Dionysus This krater demonstrates the sophisticated technique of bronze casting, resulting in its golden luster This unique artifact, the Derveni Krater dating back to the late 4th century BC is a masterpiece of ancient Greek metal. This 40-kilogram bronze krater was discovered in 1962 in a necropolis near Thessaloniki Greece. It was used as a urn and decorated with paintings and evolved from interior decoration in the 18th century

Derveni krater, late 4th century B.C.a Menead seated on the shoulder of the vase,Archaeological Museum Thessaloniki Greece

The Rococo style of room design originated in the 18th century approximately 2,000 years after the Derveni Krater's founding It features mythological scenes and the krater has a much longer history compared to later Rococo art The krater is made of bronze with a high tin content Considered one of the most complex and significant surviving examples of ancient Greek metalwork the Derveni Krater evokes a gleaming gold color without any real gold Forged from two large metal plates the Derveni Krater is a superb example of the exquisite craftsmanship and artistic sophistication of the Classical and Hellenistic periods of ancient Greece

The Derveni krater. Bronze. 330—320 BCE. Inv. No. B1. Thessaloniki, Archaeological Museum / image credit : ancientrome / pinterest

This large metal vessel with its exquisitely detailed designs was also used to hold the ashes of the deceased The bas-reliefs on its belly depict Dionysus the maenads and the satyrs representing divine power are particularly striking The Hellenistic art and culture of the Derveni Krater's Rococo style sometimes referred to as Louisian art unify everything in the room including the furniture walls and ornaments The krater was discovered in an undisturbed Macedonian tomb in Derveni near Thessaloniki in 1962 and dates back to the late fourth century BC approximately 330–320 BC