- Museum number
- 1868,0610.2
- Description
-
Pottery: black-figured amphora. Designs black on red panels, with double borders of honeysuckle along the top; accessories of white and purple.
(a) Theseus slaying the Minotaur: In the centre is Theseus to right, slightly bearded, with fillet and short embroidered chiton, girt at waist, grasping the Minotaur by his neck, into which he plunges his sword. The latter kneels on the ground and seizes Theseus by the right hand, holding in his raised left hand a white stone which he vainly endeavours to hurl at him; his muzzle is painted white. On the right is Ariadne (?) to left, in a long embroidered chiton with diploidion and purple himation; behind her an Athenian youth (?), beardless, in long chiton and embroidered himation. On the left, an Athenian youth as last, with fillet; behind him an Athenian maiden (?) with long chiton and embroidered himation.
(b) Marriage-procession: A quadriga moving to right, in which stand the bridal pair; the bridegroom beardless, in an embroidered himation holding the reins, the bride veiled in an embroidered himation. Behind them is the parochos (best man), to right, beardless, in long chiton and embroidered himation. At the further side of the horses walk three female figures in single file, with embroidered chitons and diploidia, carrying various objects; the first and last bear on their heads baskets closely resembling the λίκνον or vannus used in the worship of Iacchos, and also for carrying offerings at sacrifices. The middle one carries either a basket (as Canephoros) or a sieve. In front of the horses is a bearded male figure, probably the proegetes (leader of the procession) moving to right and looking back, in petasos, embroidered chlamys, and endromides.
Beneath, a symbol inscribed three times.
- Production date
- 550BC-540BC (circa)
- Dimensions
-
Circumference: 95 centimetres
-
Height: 42.80 centimetres
-
Weight: 3 kilograms
-
Width: 29 centimetres
-
Depth: 28.70 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- BM Cat. Vases
For the figures of side A, cf. Jahn, Arch. Beitr. p. 260. For the head baskets, cf. Vergil, Geor. i. 166, also Vase B160, also cf. Callim. Cer. 127, and for its shape, a terracotta panel in the British Museum representing the infant Dionysos in a vannus (Combe, Anc. Terra-Cottas, pl. xxiv. 44); also British Museum Cat. of Gems, No. 1009. For the proegetes, see Hermann, Lehrbuch, iv. p. 273, n. 2.
- Location
- On display (G69/dc1)
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
2017-2018,24 Nov-25 Mar, Toulouse, Musee Saint-Raymond, Rituels grecs: une experience sensible
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Greek and Roman
- Registration number
- 1868,0610.2
