- Museum number
- 1843,0724.2
- Description
-
Pottery: two-handled red-figured amphora (jar).
Designs red on black ground, with accessories of white and yellow; carefully executed. Round the lip, vine-wreath; on the neck, each side, palmettes and a row of dots; under the handles, palmettes. On the shoulder, (a) flowers, (b) rosettes and dots; below, egg-moulding. On the body, between the two rows of designs, vine-wreath; below, all round, maeander.
On the shoulder: (a) Female head to the front, issuing from a flower which spreads out in luxuriant tendrils and blossoms each side; the head has curly hair, radiated fillet and necklace, and is painted white with yellow markings, (b) Female head to left, issuing from a flower; hair tied in a bunch, open cap radiated in front, earrings, and necklace; on either side, tendrils.
On the body, two rows of designs:
1. (a) Meeting of Pelops and Oinomaos at the altar of Zeus: In the centre is the altar painted white; behind it, a stele with white abacus, down the front of which is painted in white: ΔΙΟΣ, '(the altar) of Zeus.' Above the stele is a youthful head slightly inclined to left, with thick curls and eyes closed; above it is incised: ΠΕΡΙΦΑΣ, Περίφας. On the right of the altar is Oinomaos to left, holding out a phiale in right hand over the altar, as if pouring a libation; above him is incised: ΟΙΝΟΜΑΟΣ, Οινόμαος. He is bearded, and wears a white crested helmet, short bordered chiton with band on which four swans are embroidered, white linen cuirass with shoulder-straps and a floriated cross on the breast, belt with egg-moulding, ornamented with patterns in yellow, bordered chlamys fastened with a fibula in front, and endromides with tops turned over. He holds a spear or sceptre in left hand, and a sword is slung at his left side; the lower part of his figure has been repainted. On the left of the altar is Pelops standing to right, with left leg crossed over right, and right hand on hip; above him is incised: ΡΕΛΟΨ, Πελοψ. He is beardless, and wears a Lydian tiara ornamented with spirals and white ridged crest and lappets, short embroidered chiton and under-garment, with long sleeves, ornamented with palmettes and rings respectively; bordered chlamys fastened in front with a fibula, girdle and cross-belt ornamented with white studs, and endromides with buttons and tops turned over. A sword is slung at his side, and in his left hand are two spears; behind him hang a white pilos and a sword. On the left is Sterope to right, looking back at Hippodameia, whom she leads forward, holding her left wrist with right hand; she has white hair, and wears long chiton, bordered himation veiling her head, and shoes; in her left hand is a fan. Hippodameia has long curls, and wears a beaded ampyx ornamented with palmettes, earrings, double necklace, bracelets, and sandals; long girt embroidered chiton with looped-up sleeves and apoptygma, down the front of which is a broad stripe of lozenge-pattern with white dots; bordered himation at the back veiling her head, which she draws forward in right hand. Above her is incised: ΗΠΠΟΔΑΜΕΙΑ, Ίπποδάμεια. Between these two figures is a youthful head with curly hair and a Phrygian cap with lappets, looking downwards to right, above which is incised ΠΕΛΑΠ…, Πελάγ[ων]. On the right is Myrtilos moving away and looking back, beardless, with curly hair and bordered chlamys fastened with a fibula in front, in left hand a wreath, in right a wand; the lower part of his figure has been repainted; above him is incised ΜΥΡΤΙΛΟΣ, Μύρτίλος. On the extreme right is Aphrodite, seated to left, with hair tied in a bunch, open cap radiated in front, earrings, double necklace, bracelets, long chiton with looped-up sleeves and girdle, bordered himation, and sandals; in left hand she holds a string attached to a magic wheel lying on the ground. She holds up two fingers of right hand as if conversing with Eros, who hovers above to left, looking back at her; he has hair gathered in a knot, open cap radiated in front, earrings, double necklace, bracelets, anklet on left leg, in right hand an embroidered taenia, in left a phiale. Above these two figures is incised respectively: ΑΦΡΟΔΙΤΗ, 'Αφροδίτη, and ΕΡΩΣ, ‘Ερως. The ground-lines are indicated as usual. The scene apparently takes place before the palace of Oinomaos, represented by the pilos and sword hanging up, and by the two heads, which are probably those of former suitors slain by Oinomaos.
(b) In the centre is a female figure to left, with left leg crossed over right, leaning on a white stele; she has hair in a bunch, open cap radiated in front, earrings, double necklace, bracelets, long girt chiton, himation, and sandals, in right hand a wreath, in left an embroidered taenia. Before her is a youth seated to right, with drapery under him and myrtle-wreath, in right hand a staff, in left a phiale containing fruit; between them is a taenia, and above, an iynx flying to right with an embroidered taenia in its claws. On the left is a female figure moving to right, with hair in a bunch, open beaded cap, earrings, double necklace, bracelets, long girt chiton, and shoes, in right hand a bunch of grapes, in left a large flower. She looks back at a youth to right, with left foot raised on a rock, myrtle-wreath, and drapery over left arm, holding out a wreath in both hands; above is a rosette. On the right is a youth to the front with myrtle-wreath, chlamys over arms, staff in left hand and mirror in right, looking back at a female figure to left, who holds out a white alabastron to him in right hand; she has hair tied in a bunch, open cap radiated in front, earrings, double necklace, bracelets, long girt chiton, and sandals, in left hand a wreath, over her right arm a white taenia; above are two rosettes. The ground-lines are indicated.
2. On the lower row, a frieze representing offerings at a tomb: In the centre is an altar on a base with two bands of white dots; above it is an Ionic capital on which stands a fluted hydria; above hangs a white taenia with dots. On the right is a female figure approaching, about to place an embroidered taenia on the hydria; she wears bracelets; her figure is almost entirely repainted. Next is a youth seated to right, looking back, entirely repainted; behind him, a rosette and a flower; before him, a white taenia. Next, a similar youth to left, wearing a wreath, all but the top of his head repainted; behind him, a star of nine points. Next are two female figures, almost entirely repainted; the first to left with radiated cap and sandals, holding out an embroidered taenia in right hand; the other seated to the front, holding a fan in right hand and a box in left. Further to the right are four figures moving to left; first, Eros running, looking back, with embroidered taenia in right hand and phiale in left, mostly repainted. Next is a female figure with hair gathered in a radiated opisthosphendone, earrings, double necklace, long chiton, and himation in which left hand is muffled, in right band a large branch with fruit; before her is a laurel-branch. Next, a youth looking back, with myrtle-wreath and drapery over arms, in right hand a mirror; on his left hand is perched an iynx, and before him is a flower; his figure is slightly restored. Behind him is a female figure running, with bracelets, long chiton, sandals, and wreath in left hand, mostly repainted; before her, a rosette and a plant. Next to these is a female figure moving to right, with hair tied in a bunch, open cap radiated in front, earrings, necklace, bracelets, long girt chiton, himation over left arm held up in right hand, and sandals; on her left hand is a goose (?) to left. Before her is a female figure looking back, similarly attired, with himation round body and wreath in right hand from which hangs a white taenia, in left a pyxis and embroidered taenia. Lastly, a female figure seated to left looking back at the altar, with hair gathered in a radiated opisthosphendone, earrings, double necklace, bracelets, long chiton, himation, and sandals, in right hand an Apulian sistrum, in left a box with open lid, and an embroidered taenia. The ground-lines are indicated here and there, with occasional flowers.
- Production date
- 360BC-330BC
- Dimensions
-
Height: 96 centimetres
-
Weight: 7 kilograms (Approx)
-
Width: 36 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- BM Cat. Vases
Ann. dell’ Inst. 1840, pls. N, O, p. 171; Arch. Zeit. 1853, pl. 54, 1, p. 42; Melanges d’Archeol. 1881, p. 361; Gerhard, Archaeol. Intelligenzblatt, Marz 1835; Jahn, Vasensamml. zu München, p. xliii., note 245; Gaz. Arch. 1875, p. 20; Kretschmer, Gr. Vasminschr. p. 215; C.I.Gr. 8422.
For the subject of side 1a, cf. BM Vases F271 and F278.
For the dress of Pelops, cf. Kepheus on BM Vase F185.
For the inscription Pelagon, see Paus. vi. 21, 11, and cf. BM Vase Β601.13.
For the magic wheel, cf. BM Vase F223.
A similar subject to side 1a is on a large crater in the Soane Museum (the Cawdor vase; see Michaelis, Ancient Marbles in Gt. Britain, p. 481); for Myrtilos and Aphrodite, cf. Gaz. Arch. 1875, pls. 5-6.
- Location
- On display (G73/dc14)
- Condition
- Repaired and restored.
- Department
- Greek and Roman
- Registration number
- 1843,0724.2
