- Museum number
- 1837,0609.50
- Description
-
Pottery: black-figured amphora. Designs black on red panels, with borders of lotus and honeysuckle along the top; accessories of white and purple.
(a) Apotheosis of Heracles: On the left is Zeus, seated to right, bearded, with long hair, fillet, long chiton and himation, both embroidered with rosettes; in his right hand is a sceptre ending in an anthemion (?), somewhat resembling a trident. The back of his throne is formed by the bust of a Sphinx to left with long hair and fillet. Facing him is Athene, with long hair, fillet, long purple chiton and embroidered himation; she is armed with a lofty helmet and a shield with device of a star of eight points, between which are dots, in right hand a spear. Behind her is Heracles retreating to right, looking back, in a short purple chiton and the lion's skin, with sword-belt, club in right hand, the left raised. On the right is Poseidon (?), or perhaps Palaemon, to left, with long hair, beardless, wrapped in a himation with broad stripes, in right hand a trident.
(b) The same subject, differently treated: On the left Zeus, seated to right, bearded, with long hair and fillet, wrapped in an embroidered himation, and holding in left hand a sceptre terminating in a bud-like ornament with a volute on either side. His feet rest on a footstool with lion's claws, and the back of the chair is recurved in the form of a swan's head, the legs inlaid with palmettes. Facing him is Athene, with long hair, long purple chiton and embroidered himation, high-crested helmet, spear, and shield with device of a small bird flying to left, right hand held up with an owl perched upon it. Behind her is Heracles to left, with short purple chiton, lion's skin, and greaves, in left hand a twig; behind him again, Hermes to left, bearded, with long hair, petasos, short chiton, embroidered chlamys, and endromides, in right hand a spear.
On the bottom is incised: F.
- Production date
- 540BC (circa)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 38.10 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- BM Cat. Vases
De Witte, Descr. 95; Gerhard, A.V. ii. 128, p. 152 ff.; Baumeister, p. 1652 (Zeus on obverse); Overbeck, Kunstmyth. (Zeus), p. 27, (Poseidon), p. 213.
For the subject, cf. Paus. iii. 18. 11, and Roscher, p. 2217; for a different version, see Jahn, Arch. Aufs. p. 96 ff.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1837
- Department
- Greek and Roman
- Registration number
- 1837,0609.50
