- Museum number
- 1867,0508.1334
- Description
-
Pottery: red-figured amphora with cover.
Designs red and white on black ground, with yellow accessories. On the neck, each side, palrnette and egg-moulding; below the designs, all round, maeander. On the shoulder, (a) above the design, rosettes and dots; below, egg-moulding; (b) wave-pattern and palmettes. The designs on the body are in two rows, divided by a band of (a) maeander in perspective, red and white, (b) rosettes and dots; the obverse designs are separated from those on the reverse by palmettes.
On the shoulder (a): Head of Hera (?) turned half to left, with curly hair, white stephane on which are yellow crenelle and chevron patterns, earrings, and double necklace, resting on a flower which branches out on either side in luxuriant blossoms and tendrils; on either side of the head, an alabastron (?).
(a) 1. Scene in Hades: In the centre is Pluto seated to left on a seat painted white, with moulded legs, and maeander along the side; his feet rest on a footstool. He is bearded, with curly hair, long chiton with embroidered border round the top, girdle with white studs and vandyked borders, purple under-garment with long sleeves, himation, and endromides with rows of buttons; in right hand he holds out a phiale, in left is a tall sceptre with white dots, the top formed by a white Ionic capital, on which is perched a white eagle to left with open wings. Before him is Persephone to the front looking to right, with hair in a knot under an open cap and white radiated stephane, earrings, double necklace, bracelets, long girt chiton, himation, and white sandals; with right hand she draws forward her himation, in left she holds a wreath; her left arm rests on a torch with six arms, painted white. Between them hang a white petasos and a sword; behind Pluto is a white incense-burner; to the left of Persephone is a large mirror on the ground, the handle in the form of a nude figure, painted white, supporting the mirror with her arms. On the right is Hermes to left leaning against a laver painted white with egg-moulding round the top, on a fluted stem; he is beardless, with long curls, white petasos slung at back, chlamys fastened with a fibula in front, winged endromides, caduceus in left hand, two fingers of right hand extended to Pluto as if addressing him. Behind the laver is a large kylix; above Hermes, a prochoos and a white ball. On the left is Aphrodite, seated to left on a folding-stool with chevron-pattern along the top, looking back; her hair is tied in a bunch, with tresses over shoulders, and she wears an open beaded cap, earrings, double necklace, bracelets, long chiton, himation, and white sandals. In her right hand are an open box painted white and a white ball with patterns in yellow, hanging by a string, in left a parasol also painted white; she leans against a laver (as before). The ground-lines are indicated as usual.
2. Toilet-scene: In the centre is a female figure seated to left on a white Ionic capital; her hair is tied in a bunch, and she wears open beaded cap, earrings, necklace, bracelets, long girt chiton with stripe down breast and side, and white sandals. In her right hand is a pyxis ornamented with across patee, containing flowers, in left hand a tympanon; behind her is an embroidered taenia. Before her is a youth seated to left, looking back, with beaded fillet, sandals, and drapery under him, in right hand a phiale with flowers, in left a bunch of grapes; below him, ground-lines. On the right is Eros seated on a rock to left, with hair in a bunch, open beaded cap, earrings, necklace, bracelets, strings of beads over right shoulder and round left thigh, anklet on left leg, and white sandals, in right hand a large flower; below him, a plant.
(b) 1. In the centre is Eros seated to left on a rock, as in the last scene, in right hand a phiale containing three sprigs of myrtle, and a wreath. Before him a female figure advances, with hair tied in a bunch, striped open cap, earrings (?), necklace, bracelets, long girt chiton, and white sandals; in right hand a wreath from which hangs a white taenia, in left a pyxis ornamented with a cross patee, on which is fruit. Behind her is a taenia, and before her a laurel-shrub; below are ground-lines. Behind Eros is a female figure to left, as the other one, with long tresses falling over shoulders; she has a wreath in right hand from which hangs a white taenia, and her left hand rests on a white stele, holding a wreath. Before her is a laurel-shrub.
2. Offerings at stele: In the centre is the stele, with white top and base; round it are tied a white and a black taenia. On either side is a female figure seated on raised ground, turned away from the stele but looking back; each has hair in a knot, open beaded cap, earrings, necklace, bracelets, long girt chiton fastened on shoulders, and white sandals. The one on the left has a mirror in right hand and a bunch of grapes in left; the other has a mirror in left hand, and in right a tympanon and a pyxis ornamented with a cross patee, containing flowers; below her is a rosette. The ground-lines are indicated.
- Production date
- 340BC-330BC (circa)
- Dimensions
-
Diameter: 40 centimetres
-
Height: 88.90 centimetres
-
Height: 89 centimetres
-
Weight: 4 kilograms
- Curator's comments
- BM Cat. Vases
Winkler, De Inferorum repraesentationibus, p. 23.
For the six-armed torch, cf. BM Vases F277 and F278.
For the pose of Persephone, cf. BM Vases F298 and F335.
Scene a1 probably represents Hermes Psychagogos about to conduct Persephone back to earth: cf. the kylix by Xenocles, BM Vase Β425.
- Location
- On display (G73/dc19)
- Acquisition date
- 1867
- Department
- Greek and Roman
- Registration number
- 1867,0508.1334
