hydria
- Museum number
- 1875,0309.25
- Description
-
Pottery: red-figured hydria.
Heracles, Hebe (?), Aphrodite (?), and Eros. On the right on the level of the handle of the vase, Hebe (?) in a long chiton, earrings and opisthosphendone, is seated to left, leaning with her left elbow as if on raised ground. In front of her on the ground lies a square box, off which Eros, with wings raised, climbs up into her lap, his left knee and arms already resting on it. Facing her stands Heracles, a beardless youth, with the lion-skin over his head and hanging at his back, leaning forward upon his club: he raises his right hand with a gesture as if he were addressing her. On the left Aphrodite (?), wearing only a mantle which leaves her body bare to the waist, a sphendone and earrings, stands to left, but looks round at the scene, raising her right hand with a beckoning gesture.
White, with yellowish details on the red ground, has been used for the flesh of Eros, but is mostly worn away. Eye in profile. The design curves over the shoulder. Below, round the neck, and round the lip, egg pattern. Below each of the handles, palmette pattern with tendrils. The figure of Hebe is partly cut off by the handle.
- Production date
- 370BC-350BC
- Dimensions
-
Height: 27.94 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- BM Cat. Vases
Cf. the vase with the marriage of Heracles and Hebe, Baumeister, p. 630, fig. 700, where Aphrodite and Eros are both present. For the half-nude types of Aphrodite, cf. Roscher, vol. i, pt. 1, p. 414.
- Location
- On display (G20a/dc28)
- Acquisition date
- 1875
- Department
- Greek and Roman
- Registration number
- 1875,0309.25