- Museum number
- 1843,1103.79
- Description
-
Pottery: red-figured kylix. Drawing rather coarse and careless, but strong. Purple is used for the headgear, inscriptions, and reins; inner markings in brown. On each side of each handle a large palmette.
Interior: Within a thin red circle, a youth, wreathed, dances (?) to right in a bent attitude, right hand on hip, left extended downwards, holding mantle. In field HOΠΑΙΣΚΑΛΟΣ, ό παίς καλός. The feet of the figure rest upon the border of the design.
(a) Combat of Menelaos with Paris (?). On right Menelaos (shield device, a bird flying) rushes forward with shield extended and couched spear to give the final stroke to Paris (?), who has fallen to left on his left knee and looks back, thrusting with his spear and covering himself with his shield (device, a tripod, half seen). On the left a third warrior comes to his assistance, with a movement exactly similar to that of Menelaos. All the figures are bearded, and wear a helmet covering the face, and greaves. Paris has no drapery; the others have drapery knotted around the loins. In the field is MENEΛEOΣ, Meveλέως.
(b) Troilos (?) A boy (wreathed, mantle over right upper arm and left forearm) moves to left, looking back, between two horses, which he holds by a rein looped up in each hand; the reins are those of a chariot. The left hand horse turns its head round, the other throws its head back. Above the design ΠΛΕΧΣΙΠΠΟΣ, Πλήξιππος. Below the exterior scenes a thin red line.
- Production date
- 510BC-500BC
- Dimensions
-
Diameter: 31.75 centimetres
-
Height: 11.43 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- BM Cat. Vases
Murray, Designs from Greek Vases, no. 16; Stuart in Archceologia, xxiii, p. 251; Birch, ibid, xxxi, p. 265; Gerhard, Rapp. Volc. p. 154, no. 411, and p. 186, no. 766; Ann. dell’ Inst. 1849, p.145; C.I.Gr. 7670.
The inscription on the exterior (side a) is written all along the top of the design, it is uncertain to which figure it belongs. It might possibly belong to the left hand figure, in which case the subject would represent the combat between Hector and Menelaos over the body of Euphorbos, as shown on the Cameiros pinax.
For the name on side b, see note on BM Vase Ε21.
- Location
- On display (G20a/dc1)
- Condition
- Broken and formerly riveted, but nothing important missing.
- Acquisition date
- 1843
- Department
- Greek and Roman
- Registration number
- 1843,1103.79
