A masterpiece of classical craftsmanship, this exquisite cup is richly decorated with mythological motifs. A lovely young woman dressed in a short flowing tunic--perhaps a nature deity or Artemis, goddess of the hunt--is shown four times amid lush vegetation and wild animals. The image of a woman with power over nature is a very ancient one, harking back to the Neolithic age and the Near Eastern " Mistress of the Beasts". This splendid vessel was perhaps used to celebrate a successful hunt. It enchants us with its delicate modeling and mysterious subject matter, which seems as old as civilization itself.