One of the duties of the citizens of Athens was to defend the city. With the duty of war, every citizen fought to maintain the power of his polis. Many Greek vase paintings depict the donning of armour or the departure of warriors for battle.
The wife of the hoplite holds a jug and bowl ready for the farewell ritual. She will pour wine into the bowl and pour some of it on the ground as a libation. The rest will be shared by the warrior, his wife and his father as a sign of solidarity. (AVS)
Former collection Hans Radtke, Berlin