- Museum number
- 1843,1103.100.x
- Description
-
Pottery: black-figured amphora.On the neck, double lotus and honeysuckle pattern. Under the handles each side, a design of palmettes, lotus-buds and volutes. Below, palmettes and lotus-buds alternating in purple and black, and a chain of leaves in red on black.
(a) 1. On the shoulder: Combat of Heracles and Kyknos: In the centre, Heracles to left, with lion's skin, short purple chiton, quiver, shield painted white on left arm, and club brandished in right, rushing upon Kyknos, who is fully armed, with short diapered chiton, Boeotian shield and drawn sword, and retreats to left, looking back. Between them Zeus to left, bearded, with long hair, fillet, long embroidered chiton and himation with purple lining, interposes and forces back their shields. On the right is a quadriga driving away, the charioteer bearded, with long white chiton and purple girdle; on the further side of it is Athene to left, with high-crested helmet, long diapered chiton, and shield painted purple, hurling a spear; in front of this quadriga is a warrior departing, fully armed, with shield on which are two pellets. On the left is a similar scene; a quadriga driving away to left with a charioteer as the last; by the side of it Ares advances to right, hurling spear at Heracles; he has a high-crested helmet, greaves, and shield painted purple. In front of the chariot is a warrior departing, as the other, with a shield painted purple.
2. On the body: Procession of deities: In the centre, Apollo Citharoedos to right, bearded, with long white chiton and striped himation, playing with a plectrum on the chelys, from which hangs embroidered drapery. On either side, facing him, is a female figure (Artemis and Aphrodite?), with long tresses, fillet, long diapered chiton with diploidion and striped embroidered himation, holding a wand. On the left is a winged male figure, probably a wind-god, to right, bearded, with long hair, fillet, short purple chiton, pardalis (leopard skin) tied round the waist, and endromides, left hand raised. On the right is Poseidon to right, looking back, bearded, with fillet, long embroidered chiton and striped himation, in right hand a trident.
(b) 1. On the shoulder, Battle-scene: On the left, two warriors advancing to right, with lofty visored helmets, greaves, swords, and shields, the one painted purple, the other white; in front of them another warrior rushing forward to right, similarly armed, with device of a tripod on his shield; in the opposite direction is a quadriga at full speed, the charioteer beardless, with long white chiton. On the right is another quadriga driving rapidly to right, the charioteer bearded, with long white chiton and purple girdle; facing it is a warrior thrusting with spear, armed as the others, with purple shield. The parabates (trainer) has fallen out of the quadriga backwards on his head; he has a high-crested helmet and purple shield. Behind him is a warrior rushing forward to his rescue, fully armed, with a shield. In front of the chariot are two warriors to left, the first fully armed, with short chiton, on which scales are incised, sword, and shield with device of a bull's head; the second has high-crested helmet, greaves, and shield, on which are three pellets.
2. On the body, Departure of a warrior: A quadriga to right, the third horse white, the charioteer beardless, with long white chiton and striped embroidered himation; by his side a bearded figure with fillet and similar himation. Facing them is a female figure, with long hair, fillet, long diapered chiton and purple diploidion, right hand raised. Behind her, on further side of horses, is a warrior to left, with lofty visored helmet, greaves and shield; behind him a bearded figure to right looking back, in long chiton and striped himation. On front of the horses is a warrior advancing to right, bearded and fully armed, with fillet, short striped chiton, purple greaves and shield. Behind the quadriga is a warrior departing to left, with lofty visored helmet, greaves, and shield with device of a scorpion to left.
- Production date
- 545BC-530BC (circa)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 45.72 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- BM Cat. Vases
Inghirami, Vasi Fiit. pl. 299-300; Micali, Storia, iii. p. 146, pl. 85, 3, 4; Él. Cér. ii. pl. 36 D; Overbeck, Kunstmyth. Atlas, xi. 15; id. Zeus, p. 345, Apollo, p. 44, Poseidon, p. 212; Mayer, Gig. u. Titan, p. 304.
- Location
- On display (G13/dc8)
- Condition
- Badly damaged and partly restored.
- Acquisition date
- 1843
- Department
- Greek and Roman
- Registration number
- 1843,1103.100.x
