In the main side of stamnos, three women are preparing to do libations. They wear long rippled chitons and sakkos (a coarse cloth that covers the head) or tainia (headband) on their head. The woman, to the left of the table, ladles wine from a stamnos into a phiale (libation bowl) with an arytaina (spoon) The other two women are waiting their turn, one holding a phiale and the other a kantharos.

The three women have been identified with Maenads, followers of the god Dionysus. This is also supported by the vase’s back side, where three women are holding thyrsoi (sticks that end in a pinecone with ivy and vine leaves). The representation refers to a festival dedicated to Dionysus, perhaps Lenaia. In similar scenes there is also the wooden statue (xoanon) with the mask of Dionysus Lenaios. Vases with this type of scenes are known as "lenaia vases".