Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Chryssa and I am a Gallery Steward. On Sundays, I welcome the visitors and provide information to them about the current and future exhibitions, the history of the College and the local area. I also keep a record of the visitors and compile a list of questions which I report back to my team leader.

What is your favourite part of the job?

My favourite part of the job is that it has given me ample opportunity to engage with the general public on a social and cultural basis and to expand my intellectual horizons by delving deeper into art and culture.

What is your favourite piece of Eton (or Collections) trivia?

My favourite exhibit is a late 6th-century attic black-figure amphora from the Museum of Antiquities because it represents a characteristic scene of Dionysus and Ariadne, and reveals a fascinating myth and a story of unfulfilled love, treachery, abduction, marriage and death. Dionysus, the god of wine, fertility, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, and theatre, holds a drinking horn, wears a long robe (chiton) and a cloak (himation), and is crowned with a wreath of ivy-leaves. Ariadne, a Cretan princess and his wife, also wears a robe and a cloak, and a tiara around her head. They are surrounded by ivy branches and vines laden with leaves, clusters of grapes and two enormous flanked apotropaic eyes.

Chryssa has written about the amphora for July’s blog post:

https://etoncollegecollections.wordpress.com/2020/07/14/an-ode-to-an-amphora/

Keep an eye on our blog and social media for more shared views across the summer months!