37: Two Ancient South Italian Red-figure Fish Plates

For this episode of Object Matters host Dr Craig Barker is joined by Classicist and Greek cultural historian Professor Alastair Blanshard, from the University of Queensland. They discuss two of Alastair's favourite vases in the Chau Chak Wing Museum collection: two fish plates from ancient Magna Grecia (South Italy), NM46.55 and NM80.48. Together they cover the symbolism of the depiction of seafood in a social context in the ancient Greek world, the function of these vases, and the role of food in ancient societies as well as the joys of taking up fishing as a hobby later in life.

Guest: Professor Alastair Blanshard is Paul Eliadis Chair of Classics and Ancient History at the University of Queensland. As a Greek cultural historian, Alastair's research interests include the social and cultural history of ancient Athens, Greek gender and sexuality, epigraphy, the classical tradition and the reception of the past in the modern world. He has authored books including Classical World: All That Matters (2016), Classics on Screen: Ancient Greece and Rome on Film (2012) and Hercules: Scenes from an Heroic Life (2005).
Follow Alastair on Twitter at @AlastairBlan

Host: Dr Craig Barker, Head of Public Engagement, Chau Chak Wing Museum and Director, Paphos Theatre Archaeological Excavations. Follow @DrCraig_B on Twitter and Instagram.

Objects details:
Campanian fish plate, The Torpedo Painter, c. 325-300 BC, ceramic, Campania, Italy. Purchased with funds from the Friends of the Nicholson Museum 1946  [NM46.55].
Illustrated.

Apulian fish plate, Group of Karlsruhe 66/140, c. 350-300 BC, ceramic, Apulia, Italy. Donated 1980 [NM80.48]