- Museum number
- 1849,0518.10
- Description
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[Text from BM catalogue of vases]
Pottery: black-figured amphora. On the neck, double honeysuckle. Under the handles, patterns of palmettes and spirals; below, maeander and lotus-buds.
(a) In the centre Memnon to right, bearded and fully armed; on his helmet the figure of a dog, the tail supporting the crest; he has long curls ending in spirals, a white cuirass, probably of linen, richly ornamented, short striped chiton, shield and spear. On either side facing him is an beardless African attendant; the one on the right has a short striped chiton and a pelta, on which is a pellet; the other has a cuirass and short diapered chiton; each has a club in right hand. Above Memnon behind is inscribed έπ]οίησ(ε)ν (?); in front: AMAΣIΣ, Αμασις.
(b) Achilles slaying Penthesilea: Achilles to right, fully armed, bearded, with hair as Memnon's in (a), short striped chiton, sword, and Boeotian shield, is thrusting with spear at Penthesilea, who retreats to right. She has long tresses, high-crested helmet with cheek-pieces, and meander border on crest, cuirass, and short striped chiton, and defends herself with spear and shield with device of an ivy-wreath.
- Production date
- 535BC (circa)
- Dimensions
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Height: 41.50 centimetres
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Weight: 3.60 kilograms
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Width: 30 centimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
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[Text from BM catalogue of vases]
Wiener Vorlegebl. 1889, pl. iii. 3; Gerhard, A.V. iii. 207, and p. 117; Panofka in Arch. Zeit. 1846, pl. 39, figs. 2, 3; Rev. Phil. ii. p. 391; Brunn, Künstlergesch. ii. p. 656; Loeschcke in Arch. Zeit. 1881, p. 31, n. 9, and in Bonner Studien, p. 248; Corey, Amaz. Ant. Fig. p. 61; Klein, Meistersig. p. 43; Schneider, Tro. Sagenkr. p. 137; C.I.Gr. 8128; Leaf in J.H.S. iv. p. 83.
For Memnon's hair, (κέρατα) cf. Helbig, Hom. Epos1, p. 241. For the cuirass, see J.H.S. v. p.235.
Loeschcke has shown that this is an imitation of Amasis' work, probably by Exekias, who copied the former's signature. Cf. Vase Β471 and Β210. It is possible that Αμασις may be the name of one of the Africans; έπ]οίησ(ε)ν is very doubtful.
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For a detailed assessment, see Mackay 2010, 201-213 and pls. 49-51. For a discussion of the scenes on the present vase in the context of Greek depictions of racial differences, see Bérard 2000, 395-402 (esp. 395-7 and fig. 15.5).
Bibliography:
Bérard, C. 2000, 'The image of the Other and the foreign hero', in B. Cohen (ed.), Not the Classical ideal. Athens and the construction of the Other in Greek art (Leiden: Brill), 390-412.
Mackay, E.A. 2010, Tradition and originality. A study of Exekias. BARIS 2092 (Oxford: Archaeopress).
- Location
- On display (G13/dc8)
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
2005-2006 26 Nov-26 Feb, Frankfurt, Liebieghaus, 'Egypt, Greece & Rome'
2015, 26 Mar-5 Jul, The British Museum, Defining Beauty: the body in ancient Greek art.
- Condition
- Somewhat damaged; white accessories faded.
- Acquisition date
- 1849
- Department
- Greek and Roman
- Registration number
- 1849,0518.10
