Perseus Art and Archaeology Browser

ID:

aa_4815

Beazley Number:

200175

Type:

Vase

Date:

ca. -500

Period:

Late Archaic

Context:

From Vulci

Painter:

Attributed to the Dikaios Painter

Dimensions:

H. 0.812 m.

Ware:

Attic Red Figure

Shape:

Belly amphora

Decoration Description

Side A: Contest of Herakles and Apollo for the tripod. The hero, who has seized the tripod with his left hand, is about to deal Apollo a blow with the club in his right. The god, who also grasps the tripod with his left hand, passes his right hand round to take an arrow from the quiver which hangs at his left side. Herakles is bearded and wears a diadem but no clothing. Between his legs is the inscription *D*E*X*I*O*I ("receive the blow" or better "take that!"). Apollo has long hair looped up with a diadem and falling in ringlets on his cheek. He is also nude. Between his legs is the inscription *A[*P*O*L]*L*O*N ("Apollo"). Behind him Artemis is advancing to his assistance. She wears an embroidered cap, a chiton looped up at the sleeves and belted to keep the right thigh bare, and then over this a peplos or chlamys. She stretches forward her left arm as if to shoot, and with her right hand draws an arrow from her quiver. In front of her is the inscription *A*R*T*E*M*I*S ("Artemis"). Behind Herakles stands Athena, holding a spear in her right hand, and a helmet decorated with a meander pattern in her left. Her hair is looped up in a diadem, and she wears the snake aegis, chiton with looped up sleeves, and a peplos over it. In front of her is the inscription *A*Q*E*N*A[*I]*A ("Athenaia") and *P*A*L*O*N ("shake it!"), addressed to Herakles as he is wrestling for the tripod.

Side B: A youthful warrior standing between an Amazon and an aged male. The warrior is armed with a Corinthian crested helmet, a cuirass, a round shield emblazoned with a crab, and a sword. He wears a chiton that reaches his hips. He stands facing left, and raises his right hand to his helmet. The Amazon wears a Phrygian cap, with long flaps hanging down over the breast, and a tight-fitting, embroidered jacket and pants, belted at the waist. A quiver hangs at her left side, and she holds a single-edged battle axe in her right hand, and a bow in her left. Her hair falls out loosely from under her cap, and she looks down at a dog seated in front of her.

In front of the Amazon's head is the inscription *G*E*X*G*O*G*X, and behind *K*I*S*I. Over the dog *X*G*E. . . *S*I. The aged man behind the warrior holds a staff in his right hand. He is bald, and wears a myrtle wreath, a mantle drawn over the back of his head like a veil and sandals. In front of him is the inscription *X*E*X*G*I*O*X*E*X*O*G, and behind, *X*E*L*E*I*O*P*X*I*O. These last five are nonsense inscriptions.

Graffiti

In the field around the figures, *D*E*X*I*O*I ("receive the blow" or better "take that!"), *A[*P*O*L]*L*O*N ("Apollo"), *A*R*T*E*M*I*S ("Artemis"), *A*Q*E*N*A[*I]*A ("Athenaia"), *P*A*L*O*N ("shake it!"), *G*E*X*G*O*G*X, *K*I*S*I. *X*G*E . . . *S*I. *X*E*X*G*I*O*X*E*X*O*G, *X*E*L*E*I*O*P*X*I*O. These last five are nonsense inscriptions.

Collection:

London, British Museum

Citations and Bibliography

ARV2, 31, 2; Beazley Addenda 1, 75, 31.2

Boardman 1975, fig. 45; E. Knauer Die Berliner Andokides-Vase (Stuttgart, 1965) pl. 10; Walters 1851, 238, 239