Abstract

This study examines a South Italian funerary vessel from the Apulian region dated to the 4th century BCE. The project is grounded in the in-depth iconographic analysis of the Hades and Persephone vessel produced in the workshop of the Underworld Painter. I examine specifically the use of entities depicted who are known to traverse between the world of the living and the dead, and how neighboring cultures traversal iconographies are used by the South Italian vase painters to create a uniquely Apulian interpretation of the afterlife. This study uses the combined disciplines of archaeological materiality along with art historical iconographic analysis to interpret the Apulian iconographic language in lieu of translated text. The purpose of this combined study is also to further communication between the fields of archaeology and art history in order to reunite unprovenanced and looted artifacts with their context.

Advisor

Higelin Ponce de Leon, Ricardo

Department

Archaeology

Disciplines

Arts and Humanities | History of Art, Architecture, and Archaeology

Keywords

Apulia, South Italian, Red-Figure Ware, Iconography, Traversal Figures, The Underworld Painter

Publication Date

2026

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2026 Gianna Poniewaz