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Onesimos

600 BC – 500 BC

Early 5th-century BC Athenian vase painter

Red-figure vase painterAttic vase-painterVase painter
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About Onesimos

Lived 600 BC – 500 BC. Onesimos was a Greek red-figure vase painter, attic vase-painter and vase painter.

Onesimos was an ancient Athenian vase painter who flourished c. 500–480 BC. He specialized in decorating cups, mostly of Type B, which comprise virtually all known examples of his work.

Like many of his fellow red-figure painters, Onesimos emphasized realistically rendered, active figures, and depicted tableaux drawn from daily life as well as scenes from mythology. A number of the pieces painted by Onesimos bear the signature of Euphronios as potter. In light of this evidence of the two artists' close collaboration, as well as similarities in their painting styles, many researchers believe that Onesimos learned his trade as Euphronios's pupil. Similarly, the works of the later Antiphon Painter bear a close stylistic resemblance to those of Onesimos, suggesting that Onesimos may have served as a teacher in his own right.

Onesimos is the topic of a doctoral monograph by Dr. Ollie Croker of the University of Oxford.

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Important facts

Born
600 BC
Birth century
Died
500 BC
Occupation
Red-figure vase painter, Attic vase-painter, vase painter
Nationality
Also known as
Panaitios Painter

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Onesimos's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Onesimos?

early 5th-century BC Athenian vase painter

When was Onesimos born?

Onesimos was born in 600 BC.

When did Onesimos die?

Onesimos died in 500 BC.

What was Onesimos's occupation?

Onesimos was a red-figure vase painter, attic vase-painter and vase painter.

What nationality was Onesimos?

Onesimos was Greek.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Onesimos

· Wikidata: Q475054

· DBpedia: Onesimos (vase painter)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Onesimos. https://biography.guide/onesimos/

MLA: "Onesimos." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/onesimos/.

Chicago: "Onesimos." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/onesimos/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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