Attic red figure hydria-kalpis; attributed to Painter of Berlin Hydria; early classical (460-450)

Description: Three female mourners are standing around a hydria, which sits on the ground. The woman at left is pulling her hair with her right hand and touching (or beating) her breast with her left. The woman at right pulls her hair with her left hand and extends her right hand in an emphatic gesture. The woman in the center carries a basket filled with small funerary vases, two wreaths, and at least one fillet. The short, unadorned hair of the women might indicate that they are slaves, but because they have been pulling their hair, the artist may have been trying to portray the dishevelment of grief. Some scholars believe the scene might depict Electra, her sister Chrysothemis, and a servant, but it may also be generic.

Here is what the hydria as a whole looks like; below are details of the women on the left, in the center, and on the right. In the last row, there are details of the heads of each.

Woman on the left, pulling her hair with her right hand and touching (or beating) her breast with her left

Woman in the center, carrying a basket filled with small funerary vases, two wreaths, and at least one fillet.

Women on the right, pulling her hair with her left hand and extending her right hand in an emphatic gesture.