London E 372 (Vase)
Side A: Athena and Erichthonios. Side B: Two youths running (should have been Herse and Aglauros, but they are male).
- ID:
- aa_4804
- Beazley Number:
- 216598
- Type:
- Vase
- Date:
- ca. -440 — ca. -430
- Period:
- Classical
- Context:
- From Kameiros
- Region:
- Dodecanese
- Painter:
- Name vase of the Erichthonios Painter
- Dimensions:
-
H. 0.265 m.
- Ware:
- Attic Red Figure
- Shape:
- Pelike
Decoration Description
Side A: At left, Athena stands in profile to the right. She holds a spear in her right hand, and a helmet in her left. Her hair is wrapped in a scarf, and she wears a chiton fastened at the shoulders. On the right is a pile of rocks (?), on which sits a basket. The wicker lid, decorated with olive wreaths, has been thrown off and is lying on the rocks. Two snakes emerge from the rocks, near the base of the basket. A small child, dressed in a cloak thrown over his shoulder, is seen from the waist up in the box. He looks towards Athena and waves with his right hand.
The child is Erichthonios, son of Athena and Hephaistos. The myth was that the virgin Athena went to visit Hephaistos at his forge. He made advances to her and she ran away, disgusted. However, some of his semen spilled on the ground, and Erichthonios was born from that. Athena then took the baby and gave him to the daughters of Kekrops, Herse and Aglauros, for safekeeping, as is told in
Keuls (123) suggests that the box in which Erichthonios sits is a substitute for Athena's non-functioning womb.
Side B: Two youths are depicted running. They should have been Herse and Aglauros, daughters of Kekrops, but they are male.
The upper border of the figural panel is a band of olive branches, the lower border is a band of maeanders and crosses.
- Collection:
- London, British Museum
Citations and Bibliography
The Acropolis (London, 1971) 53
ArchEph 1982, 22- 23, fig. 9
