An astute symposiarch should be able to diagnose the degree of inebriation of his fellow symposiasts and make sure that the symposium progressed smoothly and without drunken excess.

[6] These are among the largest of the kraters, supposedly developed by the potter Exekias in black-figure style, though in fact almost always seen in red.

[7] This type of krater, defined by volute-shaped handles, was invented in Laconia in the early 6th century BC, then adopted by Attic potters.

Its shape and method of manufacture are similar to those of the column krater, but the handles are unique: to make each, the potter would have first made two side spirals ("volutes") as decorative disks, then attached a long thin slab of clay around them both forming a drum with flanged edges.

Among the largest and most famous metal kraters in antiquity were one in the possession of the Samian tyrant Polycrates, and another one dedicated by Croesus to the Delphic oracle.

During the Classical period the volute-type continued to be very popular along with the calyx-type, and beside the Corinthian workshop an Attic one was probably active.

Among them the gilded Derveni Krater represents an exceptional chef d'œuvre of late Classical metalwork.

[10] The Vix bronze crater, found in a Celtic tomb in central France, is the largest known Greek krater, being 1.63 m in height[11] and over 200 kg in weight.

The French artist and landscape designer Hubert Robert included the Borghese Vase, both alone and together with other stone kraters, in several of his works.