Perseus Art and Archaeology Browser

ID:

aa_4986

Beazley Number:

213890

Type:

Vase

Date:

ca. -450

Period:

Classical

Context:

From Vulci

Region:

Etruria

Painter:

Attributed to the Achilles Painter

Condition:

Some fragments are missing, especially a large one in Peleus and Thetis group. The red inscriptions of the names of the Nereids are almost gone.

Dimensions:

H. 0.176 m. Stand: H. 0.256 m.

Ware:

Attic Red Figure

Shape:

Dinos and stand

Shape Description

Simon believes that the stand is too large and does not belong to the dinos

Decoration Description

On the body is represented the fight between Peleus and Thetis in presence of seven Nereids (all named: Kymathoe, Kymatolege, Nao, Melite, Psamathe, Speo and Glauke) and their father Nereus. The scene goes all around the entire vessel in a continuous frieze, but the dispositon of the nine figures allows a division into three fields or sides A, B and C. The seven Nereids and Nereus are disposed in pairs facing one another, starting from the center of side A where Peleus attacks Thetis, and spreading around the vase.

On side A, Peleus is attacking Thetis in the center of the scene. On either side, two Nereids are fleeing. Peleus grabs Thetis by the lower part of the body, holding her very tightly. Thetis seems to be trying to flee from him, extending her right arm towards her sisters gesturing for help. Peleus' body is lost, but on his head he wears a red wreath, almost worn away. He is depicted smaller than the other figures because of he is human, not divine. Thetis is taller, richly dressed in chiton and himation and wearing a crown or diadem on her head.

At left of this pair, the Nereid Kymathoe (named in an inscription above her head: *K*U*M*A*Q*O*H), clad in chiton and himation, runs to the left, turning her head back to look to the fighting couple. She has black hair tied up in the back and makes a gesture lifting her left arm. To right of Peleus and Thetis is the Nereid Nao (inscription over her head: *N*A*O; according to Kretschmer it should be read Nao, and not *S*A*O) running from the couple to the right. She is seen from the back, turning her head and extending her right hand towards her father. Her appearance is similar to her sister Kymathoe.

Side B: Nereus and two Nereids facing each other. At left stands Nereus moving to left facing his daughter Nao on side A. He is bearded, dressed in rich himation, and carries a scepter. He raises his hand to hurry to help his daughter Thetis. In the center of this side is another Nereid moving to the right. She is dressed in chiton and himation, and wears a taenia in her long black hair falling over her back. She gestures with both hands while she goes to meet one of her sisters coming from right. The third Nereid on this side is wrapped in chiton and himation, with her left hand concealed in her himation. She gestures with her right hand and her hair is black and tied up.

Side C: Three Nereids. At left, Melite (inscription over her head: *M*E*L*I*T*H) wearing a pointed crown, runs to the right with her right arm outstrechted. Next to her another Nereid, Kymatolege (inscription over her head: *K*U*M*A*T*O*L*H*G*H) going left to meet Melite, extending her right hand. She is dressed in a belted peplos and her black hair is long and falling over her back. At right, the seventh Nereid, Glauke (inscribed *G*L*A*U*K*E), moves to the right, facing her sister Kymathoe on side A. She is dressed like the others in chiton and himation one of the hands concealed and the other extended, and her hair is tied up with a band. The inscriptions are almost faded away.

All the Nereids, except one, are dressed in long chitons and himations folded in a very characteristic way making zigzag patterns on the edges, recalling the folds of the Berlin Painter, the Achilles Painter's master. The figures are well disposed, and they form a closed and perfect, comprehensive composition. The Nereids form couples and they do not run in the same directions. The frieze that comes out is perfect in its conception.

Graffiti

Over the head of each Nereid:

Notes

The fight between Peleus and Thetis is represented in many Attic red-figured vases (LIMC, VI, s.v. Nereides, ns. 283-290) On Athens NM 1629 (CC1588) (ARV2, 1250, 34; 1688) the scene is almost the same

Collection:

Martin von Wagner Museum, University of Wrzburg

From the Feoli Collection

Citations and Bibliography

ARV2, 992, 69.

Simon 1975b, 141; LIMC, IV, Glauke I, 4 with pl.; VI, s.v. Kymathoe, s.v. Melite I, 2 with bib; s.v. Kymatholege I, s.v. Nao, 2; s.v. Nereus 84.

Langlotz 1932, n. 540, pl. 198-199; Kretschmer 1969, 202; Krieger, Die Kampf zwischen Peleus and Thetis in der griechischen Vasenmalerei, 1975, 89.182 no. 241.