- Museum number
- 1839,1109.1
- Description
-
Pottery: black-figured amphora with cover. Early black figure style, finely executed; probably an Attic replica of a Peloponnesian type. Designs round the body of the vase, black on red ground, with finely-incised lines and accessories of white and purple. Round the outside of the lip and along the top of the design, double honeysuckle-pattern.
On the cover, two bands of design. Inner: two hunting-scenes:
(1) two hunters on foot, nude and bearded, attacking a boar to r. from either side with spears;
(2) four nude horsemen (two on white horses) advancing two from either side against a deer to right, which is wounded with two spears; one is in act to throw his spear. Outer: frieze of animals: lion to right between doe and goat, panther to right, doe to left, goat to left between panthers, panther to right between does, panther and doe to left, lion to right, doe to left looking back, goat between panthers.
(a) Birth of Athene: In the centre, Zeus seated to right, with feet on a stool, bearded, with long hair bound by a fillet and tied in a club; he wears a long chiton and purple himation, both embroidered with patterns represented by incised lines; in his right hand is a thunderbolt, his left is restored holding a sceptre. The legs of the throne are inlaid with palmettes, and out of the back springs the forepart of a horse; beneath it are two small male figures, probably athletes one of them holding a wreath. In front of Zeus is inscribed: I… … Z[εύς]. From his head springs a small figure of Athene to right, with left leg advanced, long hair, high-crested helmet, long embroidered chiton, and aegis with fringe of snakes, shield and spear; in front of her, inscribed: ΑΘΕΝΑΙΑ. Facing Zeus is Eileithyia to left, of whom only the top of her head, her right hand and right leg, and her name, are antique; she wears a mitra. Above her, inscribed: HIΛEIΘVA, ‘Iλeιθva. Behind her stand Heracles and Ares to left, entirely restored, except tops of heads; Heracles has a club, Ares a high-crested helmet. Behind Zeus is Apollo Citharoedos to right, with short beard, long tresses, and fillet, wearing a long white chiton heteromaschalos, and himation with crenellated border and tassels and purple lining; he plays with a plectrum on his chelys, which is fastened by a strap to his left wrist; from it hangs embroidered drapery. In front of him: ‘Aπόλλων. Behind him are Hera and Poseidon side by side to right; the former has long hair, mitra, necklace, earrings, long embroidered chiton with diploidion, and himation; the latter is bearded, with long purple chiton and embroidered himation, in left hand a trident. Above them, HEPA; in front, ΡΟΣΕΙΔΟΝ. Behind them is Hephaestos running away to left and looking back in wonder; he has long hair bound by a fillet and tied in a club, is bearded, and wears a short embroidered chiton; in his right hand is his double-headed axe. Below him is inscribed: ΗΕΦΑΙΣΤΟΣ (retr.); between him and Hera is a small bird flying to right.
(b) Warriors setting out for battle: In the centre a quadriga to right (third horse white) in which stands the charioteer, bearded, with white petasos (broad-rimmed hat), long chiton and pardalis (leopard skin), at his back a Boeotian shield, goad in right hand, reins in both. On his left stands a warrior with lofty visored helmet, shield and spear. In front of them is inscribed: ΣAIVA; behind: …IVAK (RETR.) (Καλλιας… Καλλί[ας]; cf. Klein, Lieblingsinschr, p. 17). In the field above is a Siren flying to right. By the further side of the quadriga is a warrior to left; bearded, with visored helmet with two plumes, greaves, shield, and two spears; behind him is an old man to left, partly bald, with white hair and beard, fillet, embroidered chiton and himation; left hand raised, in right a sceptre. Above him: Aνθιπ[πος]. In front of the horses is a male figure seated to left on an okladias (stool), bearded, in long embroidered chiton and himation with border of spirals. At his further side stands a warrior to left, bearded, with hair tied in a club, carrying a shield and two spears and holding a high-crested helmet with fillet in right hand; behind him, an illegible description. In the field, an eagle flying to left with a snake in its mouth. Round the lower junctions of the handles is an elaborate lotus and honeysuckle pattern. Below, a frieze of animals, partly restored: A beardless male figure to right, in long chiton and himation; panther to right between goats, panther and goat to left, swan to left pluming itself, with wings outspread; goat and panther confronted, swan with wings back-to-back and panther confronted; the last two groups repeated; goat and swan to right, the latter pluming itself, with wings outspread; panther and goat confronted; swan to left with wings back-to-back between panthers; goat to left.
- Production date
- 560BC (circa)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 47.60 centimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- BM Cat. Vases
Él. Cér. i. pl. 65 A; Mon. dell’ Inst, iii. 44-5, and Ann. 1842, pp. 90-103; Benndorf, ib. xxxvii. (1865), p. 373; Bull. dell’ Inst. 1839, p. 70, 1848, p. 125; Gerhard, A. V. i. p. 203; Rayet and Collignon, p. 101; Harrison and Verrall, p. 432; Ruskin, Aratra Pentelici, pl. iv.; Girard, La Peinture Antique, p. 249; Baumeister, p. 96 (Apollo); Roscher, p. 453 (Apollo); Overbeck, Kunstmyth. (Zeus, p. 27, Hera, p. 30, Poseidon, p. 212, Apollo, p. 41); C. I. Gr. 7402; Klein, Meistersig., p. 47, Lieblingsinschr., p. 17; Schneider, Geburt der Athena, p. 9; Loeschcke in Arch. Zeit. 187b, p. 112.
For Apollo Citharoedos, cf. Gerhard, A. V. i. I. For the Olympian Gods on this vase, cf. Roscher, p. 694, and Baumeister, p. 218; similar vases, Ε364, Berlin Cat. 1704. Also cf. Jahn, Einleitung, p. clvii, and Brunn, Probleme, p. 36.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1839
- Department
- Greek and Roman
- Registration number
- 1839,1109.1