- Museum number
- 1836,0224.125
- Description
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Pottery: red-figured kylix.
Interior: Within a thin red circle, a Sphinx with long hair, wreathed, seated to right on the circle: around her, an inscription.
Exterior: Three groups, of which (a) and (b) appear to be two varieties of one and the same incident, generally described as Achilles pursuing Troilos. These two groups are placed in the vase one at each side of a city gate, which may be the Skæan gate, and which occupies the space around and within one handle of the vase. The front limit of each group is indicated by a tree, against which is placed a shield, belonging apparently to the group of two warriors playing pessoi under the other handle. (a) Achilles pursuing Troilos (?): On the left Achilles in short chiton, with greaves and scabbard, spear and shield in left (device two dolphins to left), rushes forward with right hand raised as if brandishing some weapon: this hand, the head and upper part of the shield are lost. Close in front of him gallops the horse of Troilos, a nude wreathed boy. Farther in front runs a youth, nude and wreathed, his left arm extended, his right holding a spear couched. Over him is inscribed TEΛEΦOΣ, Τήλεφος.
(b) Similar subject: on right an armed warrior (shield with device of an eagle flying to left) pursuing to left an armed youth (shield, with device of five pellets) on horseback. In front of the horse runs another armed figure (device on shield, two dolphins to left). Over this scene is inscribed Έ(κ)τωρ.
(c) Two Heroes playing pessoi: Beneath the other handle is a square base, on which are seven tesserae: on each side, symmetrically arranged, is a bearded warrior in chlamys, helmet tilted back, and greaves, who kneels on right knee, his right hand extended towards the dice, his left resting on his spear: at the back of each is a willow tree, against which (the outer side) a shield rests: the shield on left is Boeotian, with device of a pellet between two crows confronted: the other is Argolic, and shows half of a bull's head.
Drawing spirited: the composition much spread out. Above and below the exterior scenes is a thin red line. Below the upper one, a black line has been drawn, which in several cases cuts off portions of the figures. Purple is used for the wreaths, inscriptions, reins, tesserae, leaves of trees, and spear of youth in (a). No inner markings can be traced now, but may have existed. The outline of hair is indicated by two parallel lines of black, between which the space is left red.
- Production date
- 510BC-500BC
- Dimensions
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Diameter: 38.10 centimetres
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Height: 13.97 centimetres
- $Inscriptions
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- Curator's comments
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In LIMC (Achilleus 424) A. Kossatz-Deissmann disputes the interpretation as Achilles pursuing Troilos, instead interpreting the warrior figures as Trojans closing in on the Greek camp from both sides. The two figures without shields, including the one identified as Telephos, are interpreted as Greeks.
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BM Cat. Vases
Gerhard, A. V. iii. pl. 186, and p. 77; Murray, Designs from Greek Vases, no. 7; Welcker in Rhein. Mus. v. 140; Jahn, Telephos und Troilos, p. 86; Overbeck, Her. Bildw. p. 355, no. 25; Ann. dell’ Inst. 1850, p. 87, no. 17; Welcker, Alte Denkm. v. p. 459, no. 27; Heydemann, lliupersis, p. 20, note 9; Klein, Euphronios,1 p. 85, refers this vase to Pamphaios, but in Meistersig1, p. 41, this attribution is withdrawn: cf. Euphronios2 p. 230. Much broken, but only two fragments (parts of the lip over (a), and over one handle) missing: surface of figures injured by acid.
For the difficulties of interpretation presented by the exterior scenes, cf. Overbeck, op. cit p. 356. The fourth letter of Hector's name had been restored as a Θ in order to cover a circular rivet hole stopped with plaster; this is now removed, and the Τ is clear.
- Location
- On display (G20a/dc1)
- Acquisition date
- 1836
- Department
- Greek and Roman
- Registration number
- 1836,0224.125
