Asset number
888511001
Description
Pottery: red-Figured lekythos. Oedipus slaying the Sphinx. In the background in the centre of the scene is an Ionic column, extending to the upper border. In front of this Oedipus with his right foot on higher ground, standing en face, his body thrown backward, his left arm doubled back as if encircling the column, unless the doubling of the arm just there is a mere coincidence; his mantle floats from the left hand across the shoulder; he strikes downward to right at the Sphinx, which has fallen with face downward between its fore-legs to left. The left foot of Oedipus rests on the back of the monster's head; the profile of its face is still traceable, but the white colour is here worn off. Above Oedipus is inscribed his name, half on each side of the column, ???? ???S, ??d?p???. Over the Sphinx, Apollo is seated to left, on his mantle spread on high ground; he has long wavy hair wreathed with laurel, and a long laurel branch against his right shoulder; an end of his mantle passes over his right thigh; he leans on his left elbow, looking round in three-quarter face to right. Beside him is inscribed his name, ?????O?, '?p?????. On the left of Oedipus Athene stands looking on, with spear resting against right shoulder and left hand resting on the edge of her shield (seen in perspective), which has for device a laurel-wreath within an edging of dots. She wears a long chiton with apoptygma, aegis, necklace and belt of beads, earrings, bracelets, ana a helmet with raised cheek-pieces; beside her on right, ?T???, '????a. Behind her on left stands Aeneas, a beardless youth in a chlamys, with spear resting against his left shoulder, leaning forward with his left foot raised on higher ground; beside him a tree, and over him his name, AINEAS, ????a?. On the right of Apollo are the Dioscuri. Castor stands in three-quarter face to left, with left hand on his hip and holding upright in his right a spear; a short mantle passes over his right elbow and left shoulder and a sword hangs at his side. Over him his name, KASTO?, ??st??. Behind him is Polydeukes, seated to right looking round; his mantle is arranged like that of Apollo, and his spear rests against his left shoulder. Over him, his name, ?????????S, ????de????. This figure, Aeneas, and Oedipus all wear open-work sandals. Late fine style. Gilding on a raised surface is used for the helmet, aegis, and shield of Athene, the spear-heads, jewellery, wings of the Sphinx, and centres of palmettes. White, with details in brown, for the flesh and drapery of Athene, and the body of the Sphinx. Purple for inscriptions. Inner markings in very fine lines of black glaze. Ground-lines very lightly incised in the black glaze. Below, a band of egg pattern, over which the feet of the Sphinx project. Above, a row of upright palmettes; round the neck, tongue pattern. Below the handle, two palmettes superimposed, with one branching on each side.
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