- Museum number
- 1885,1213.11
- Description
-
Pottery: black-figured kylix ('Siana' shape). Designs black on red ground; purple and white accessories. Underneath the foot, at the point of insertion of the stem, is a spike, an imitation of metal-work.
Interior, in a medallion with borders of dots and tongue-pattern: Ajax seizing Cassandra at the Palladion: Ajax to right, bearded, with high-crested helmet, white cuirass with incised lines, short purple chiton with chevron border, purple greaves, sword-belt and sheath, drawn sword in right hand, is about to slay Cassandra, whom he has seized with left hand. She crouches to left at the feet of the Palladion, her head being hidden behind it; she is nude, with left hand extended in supplication to Ajax. The goddess is represented standing to left, with long tresses, high-crested helmet, long diapered chiton with chevron border, spear brandished in right hand, shield painted purple with Gorgoneion in white, the features incised, eyes and tongue purple. Behind is a Siren to right looking back, with wings outspread, long hair and fillet. In the field are two lotus-buds. In the exergue, a row of lotus-buds.
Exterior: Two friezes with ivy-wreath above, and borders of tongue-pattern and dots below:
(a) Apotheosis of Heracles: On the left is Zeus seated on a throne to right, bearded, with long tresses, fillet, long white chiton with incised lines forming a lozenge-pattern and border of the same, richly diapered himation with maeander border, in left hand thunderbolt, sandals on feet, which rest on a footstool. The throne is richly inlaid, with two horizontal rails each side, between which are volutes, the back ending in a snake with head turned back; at the end of the upper rail on the right side is a large lotus-bud. Behind Zeus is Hera similarly seated, with earrings, necklace, long purple chiton, with borders of wavy and chevron patterns, the middle part diapered, and purple himation, drawn over her head, which she raises with left hand, sandals on her feet, which rest on a footstool. Her throne is similar to that of Zeus; at the back is a spiral instead of the snake. Before her on a footstool stands Hebe to left, with long hair tied in a club, fillet, long diapered chiton tied at the waist, with lozenge border and purple diploidion, right hand extended as if supplicating Hera. Before Zeus advance Hermes and Athene leading up Heracles; Hermes is bearded, with long tresses, short white chiton with lozenge border, richly embroidered, purple chlamys with wavy border, petasos, endromides with the usual tags behind as well as before, caduceus in left hand, right extended. Athena has long hair, high-crested helmet, long diapered chiton with chevron border, aegis with snakes projecting on both sides, shield painted purple with Gorgoneion in white, as in the inside design. Heracles has a chiton as Hermes, over which is the lion's skin drawn over his head and tied on his breast, right hand extended; he is followed by Artemis, with long hair tied back, curls in front, fillet with zigzags, long diapered chiton with lozenge border, tied at the waist, and purple diploidion, in right hand two arrows, in left her bow; and Ares, with high-crested helmet, short purple chiton with lozenge border, over which is a skin, sword-belt and kibisis (sack) slung round shoulder, and endromides, right hand extended.
(b) Combat of two warriors (perhaps Achilles and Memnon) thrusting with spears: The one on the left has a high-crested helmet, chiton and skin as Ares in (a), sword at side, purple greaves, and shield painted purple inside; the other has a high-crested helmet, richly diapered chiton, sheath at side with lozenge-pattern incised, white greaves, and shield with device of an eagle flying to left. Behind each is a female figure looking on, with long hair, fillet, and long purple chiton with diploidion; the one on the left has spear in left hand, the chiton of the other is richly diapered. Behind each is a youthful warrior on horseback; the one on the left has helmet, short purple chiton, white greaves, spear, and shield painted purple inside; his horse has white mane and tail, and he is leading a second horse, which is white. The other has a high-crested helmet, spear, and white shield with device of a six-leaved flower in purple; he also leads a second horse. The tails of the horses appear to be plaited. Behind each warrior is a lotus-bud; on the right, under the handle, is a warrior, as the last one, crouching on one knee to left, with white greaves, shield painted purple with device as last, in white. Under the other handle is a Sphinx seated to right looking back, with long hair, fillet, and wings outspread.
- Production date
- 570BC-560BC (circa)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 190.10 centimetres
-
Weight: 581 grammes
-
Width: 33.40 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- BM Cat. Vases
J.H.S. v. pls. 40-42, pp. 220 ff.; Biliotti Sale Cat. 3-5 Dec. 1885.
For the metal spike, see also Vase B382. For Ajax seizing Cassandra, cf. Vase Β242. For Ajax's cuirass, see J.H.S. v. p. 235. For Achilles and Memnon, see also Vase Β302. For plaited horses' tails, see also Vase Β76.
- Location
- On display (G13/dc8)
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
2014-2015, 13 Nov-13 Feb, Paris, Musee du Louvre, Rhodos: a Gate from and to the Eastern Mediterranean
- Condition
- Badly damaged.
- Acquisition date
- 1885
- Department
- Greek and Roman
- Registration number
- 1885,1213.11
