amphora
- Museum number
- 1856,1202.1
- Description
-
Pottery: black-figured amphora. Designs on red panels with double honeysuckle borders along the top; accessories of white and purple.
(a) Heracles and the Nemean lion: Heracles in centre standing to right, nude, with a sword-belt, plunges his sword into the neck of the lion, while his left hand tears its mouth open. The lion to right is raised on its right hind-leg, the left placed against Heracles' leg, the right fore-leg extended, the left paw seizing his left arm. On the right is Iolaos to left, nude and bearded, right arm laid on Heracles' left to keep off the lion's claw. On the left is Athene standing to right, without helmet, long hair, fillet, long chiton with girdle, spear in left hand.
(b) Marriage procession: In a quadriga advancing to right (the third horse white) stand the bridal pair, a bearded male figure in an embroidered himation holding the goad and reins, and a veiled female figure in a himation; the horses have top-knots. On the further side of the quadriga walk two female figures in long chitons with diploidia, that of the front one purple, each bearing a sieve.
- Production date
- 550BC-540BC (circa)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 40.64 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- BM Cat. Vases
For the subject of side A, cf. Β 159, Berlin Cat. 1713, Gerhard, A.V. 93.
A bride was accustomed to bring a sieve with her to her new home as a σημεϊον αύτουργίας (cf. Gerhard, A.V. 310, Pollux, iii. 37, and Hermann, Lehrb. iv. p. 275).
- Location
- Not on display
- Condition
- Partly restored.
- Acquisition date
- 1856
- Department
- Greek and Roman
- Registration number
- 1856,1202.1
