Asset number
480612001
Description
Pottery: black-figured olpe (jug). Grooved handle. Design in black on a red panel, with lotus and honeysuckle pattern along the top; accessories of white and purple. Perseus slaying Medusa: On the left is Perseus to right, looking back, beardless, with petasos, short embroidered chiton, over which is the skin of a deer, endromides, and the kibisis (sack) slung at his back; he grasps Medusa round the neck with left hand, and with right plunges his sword into her neck in front. Medusa moves away to right, in the archaic running attitude, with face turned to the front, of the usual Gorgon type, with short curls in front and protruding tusks and tongue; on the lower lip is a fringe of hair, and two snakes rise from her head on either side; she has a short purple chiton, over which is a stippled skin, with two snakes knotted round the waist, their heads confronted; also endromides, and two pairs of wings, outspread, the upper ones recurved. On the right is Hermes to left, bearded, with petasos, short embroidered chiton, fringed chlamys, endromides, and caduceus in left hand. Down the left side of the panel, an inscription.
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