Greater Panathenaia Festival and Panathenaic Amphorae

The Greater Panathenaia, a state religious festival honoring Athena, featured athletic and musical competitions every four years in Athens. Prizes included distinctive Panathenaic Amphorae, adorned with black-figure depictions of Athena and awarded for prestigious events like the four-horse-chariot race. Commissioned by the state and painted by leading artists such as the Kleophrades Painter, these vessels symbolized excellence and were highly valued despite their primary content being Athena's sacred olive oil.