Asset number
518349001
Description
Pottery: black figured hydria . Designs in black on red panels, with borders of ivy-down the sides and palmettes along the bottom; accessories of white and purple. 1. On the shoulder: Theseus slaying the Minotaur: In the centre is Theseus to right, beardless, with short chiton, seizing the Minotaur's horn with left hand, and with right plunging his sword into his neck. The Minotaur has a bull's head and tail, and holds a stone in left hand. On either side is a seated female figure, with long hair, fillet, long chiton and himation, both embroidered; behind them, beardless male figures in embroidered chlamydes, each with two spears; behind them female figures, the one on the left standing, with a wreath in left hand, the one on the right seated. All these are facing the centre group; they are probably Athenian youths and maidens. 2. On the body: Contest of Heracles with Aeheloos: In the centre is Heracles to right, with lion's skin over short embroidered chiton, quiver and sword; he seizes Acheloos by the horn and plants left foot on his right flank; Acheloos is represented with human head and body united at the waist to a bull's body, with bull's horns and ears, long beard and tresses; he holds up a rock in left hand, to hurl at Heracles. Before him are Deianeira to left and Hermes to right looking to left, side by side; the former has long hair, and long chiton and himation, right hand raised to mouth; the latter is bearded, with long tresses, petasos, chlamys, endromides, and caduceus. Behind Deianeira is her father Oineus seated on an okladias to left, partly bald, with long white tresses and beard, wrapped in an embroidered himation; both he and Deianeira wear large wreaths. Behind Heracles stands Athene to right, with left hand raised, long tresses, high-crested helmet with cheek-pieces, aegis, long embroidered chiton and spear; by her side her shield, on which is a pellet. Behind her stands Iolaos, bearded, in visored helmet and embroidered himation, holding a spear.
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