comedic plays often satirically critiqued various aspects of Greek life, the topic of pederasty may have been served as a valid theme for a play. On the other hand, the rooster costume may symbolize aggression or violence. In particular, the god of war Ares is said to have changed a man into a rooster for failing to alert him to the rising of the sun. Cock fighting was also a common practice in Greece at the time of this vessel's creation. Furthermore, scholar Eric Caspo has noted that a rooster's comb and wattle resembles Corinthian helmet types. Satyr plays This scene on this pelike has also been compared to scenes of satyr plays, especially in relation to the bird actor's costume. Specifically, both the bird actor and actors in depictions of satyr plays are shown wearing the same type of shorts, referred to as perizomata, that have a circular symbol on the hip. Satyr actors also have horse tails attached to their shorts, similar to how the actor on the pelike has an attached bird tail. Furthermore, the depiction of the bird actor, like all depictions of satyr actors, is ithyphallic. It is rare to find depictions of actors playing other humans with erect phalli. References External links Pelike in Michael C. Carlos Museum Collection 5th-century BC Greek art Ancient Greek comedy Individual ancient Greek vases Satyr plays