One of the best early black-figure potters. Sophilos worked in around 590 BC-580 BC. His most famous work was a dinos (a large pot used to mix wine and water at dinner parties (symposia)) upon which was depicted the wedding of Peleus and the nymph Thetis (who later became the parents of the famous Greek hero Achilles). This dinos was very typical of the time; it included many friezes which was typical of early Greek pots. Instead of one main depiction or frieze seen in later Greek black-figure pots such as those of Exekias we can see on his pot friezes depicting trivial scenes of animals and random patterns.

Horse Race help for Patroclus from a piece of pottery (Sophilos).

NAMA 12587 : Column Krater, Sophilos

Ancient Greek Pottery

List of Greek Vase Painters

Greek Vase Painters (Category)