amphora
- Museum number
- 1843,1103.40
- Description
-
Pottery: black-figured amphora. Designs black on red panels with lotos and honeysuckle borders along the top; accessories of white and purple.
(a) Heracles slaying the Stymphalian birds (swans) with sling: On the left Heracles stands to right, in a short purple chiton with lion's skin over head and body, quiver slung at back; the swans are sixteen in number, of which one flies away behind him, five forming a lowermost row have not risen the remaining ten fly about in confusion.
(b) In the centre, two Maenads confronted, with fillets and long purple chitons with diploidia; both are enveloped in one large chlaina embroidered with rosettes, which passes round their backs like a curtain. Between them is a small bird to right on the ground. On the left is a Satyr to right, dancing, with an askos on left shoulder; on the right are two Satyrs dancing back to back; all three have long hair.
- Production date
- 540BC (circa)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 40.64 centimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- BM Cat. Vases
Gerhard, A.V. 324; Ann. dell’ Inst. 1831, p. 134, no. 191; Gaz. Arch. ii. (1876), pl. 3, for obverse.
This representation may be the explanation of μιάς ύπό χλαίνης in Soph. Tr. 540. Cf. Vases Β53 and Β409, also Furtwaengler, Coll. Sabouroff, pl. 51, and J.H.S. vii. p.205.
- Location
- On display (G69/dc35)
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
1977, London, BM, Animals in Art
- Acquisition date
- 1843
- Department
- Greek and Roman
- Registration number
- 1843,1103.40
