The designs are always in panels, the obverse representing the goddess to whom the games were sacred, in her character of Athena Promachos; the reverse, the contest in which the prize was won (see Plates XXXIII.-IV.). Athena is represented standing to the left, with crested helmet, spear raised aloft in right hand, and shield on left arm, adorned with an emblematic device; her drapery is usually much ornamented. Except in the earliest examples there is a Doric column on either side of her, surmounted by a cock, as the bird sacred to Agon, the god of athletic contests; sometimes in place of it a Sphinx, Siren, panther, or vase. In the fourth century we sometimes find a figure of Nike or Triptolemos in his car surmounting the columns. Down the side of the left-hand column is usually placed the inscription (always preserving an archaic form):

, τῶν Ἀθηνῆἄθεν ἄθλων, “(a prize) from the games at Athens.” On the earliest known, the Burgon amphora (B.M. B 130), the word

is added. In the fourth century the inscription still reads down the side of the column, but the letters are placed parallel to it, not at right angles. Further, in this period it often becomes customary to add on the right-hand side the name of the archon in whose year of office the games were held, thus enabling us to date the vase exactly.[[1242]] Of these, some ten examples are known, ranging from 367 to 313 B.C., the list being as follows:—

Polyzelos367B.C.B.M. B 603Found atTeucheira,
Cyrenaica
Themistokles347”Athens Mus.”Athens
Pythodelos336”B.M. B 607 and 608”Cervetri
Nikokrates333”B.M. B 609”Benghazi
Niketes332”B.M. B 610”Capua
Euthykritos328”B.M. B 611”Teucheira
Hegesias324”Louvre”Benghazi
Kephisodoros323”Louvre”Benghazi
Archippos321”Louvre”Benghazi
Theophrastos313”Louvre”Benghazi

The contests represented include the pentathlon, chariot-race, foot-race, armed foot-race, torch-race, tilting on horseback, the παγκράτιον, and musical contests (see Chapter XV., § [4]).

PLATE XXXIV