kylix
- Museum number
- 1836,0224.139
- Description
-
Pottery: red-figured kylix, with low foot.
Interior: Within a double circle of red lines, a man slays a woman. The woman is dressed in an undertied sleeveless chiton, with stethodesmos, and her hair is looped up under her wreath. She raises both arms, palm upwards, with an imploring gesture towards the man, who raises his right above his head (not shown, but probably holding sword drawn from scabbard in left) to despatch her; he wears a chlamys, endromides and a pilos (these last half seen). The altar is of a form developed from an Ionic capital, and has rudimentary volutes and egg moulding. Exergue left red.
The folds of the woman's dress are in light brown: her wreath in a colour which is now greyish. Eye of developed profile type.
- Production date
- 440BC (circa)
- Dimensions
-
Diameter: 17.10 centimetres
-
Height: 5.05 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- BM Cat. Vases
Overbeck, Her. Bildw. p. 665; Heydemann, Iliupersis, p. 18, note 6, E.
The subject of this scene appears to be uncertain. Various other suggestions have been made, as Orestes killing Clytaemnestra, or Hermione; Alcmaeon killing Eriphyle: De Witte, Overbeck and Heydemann all agree in calling it the sacrifice of Polyxena by Neoptolemos.
- Location
- On display (G20a/dc4)
- Acquisition date
- 1836
- Department
- Greek and Roman
- Registration number
- 1836,0224.139
