Perseus Art and Archaeology Browser

ID:

aa_5230

Beazley Number:

216556

Type:

Vase

Date:

Period:

Classical

Context:

Excavated at Kameiros

Region:

Dodecanese

Painter:

Attributed to the Alexandre Group

Dimensions:

H 0.278m

Ware:

Attic Red Figure

Shape:

Kantharos

Decoration Description

Exterior: Side A: Theseus and Andromache. On the left Theseus, clad only in a helmet, lunges forward on his left leg with his sword hanging at his side. Holding his shield up to protect himself with his left arm, with his right he aims his spear at Andromache's breast. She flees to the right with her bow in her left hand, but turns to face him and with her right arm raised above her head she strikes at him with her battle axe. She is armed with bow and quiver and clad in cuirass and short chiton with a kidaris (eastern head-dress), spotted to indicate animal hide. Both are named by inscriptions, *Q*E*S*E*U*S, Theseus and *A*N*D*R*O*M*A*X*E, Andromache.

Side B: Phorbas and Alexandre. From the right the Greek hero Phorbas attacks the figure of an Amazon on the left. He runs over a small rise and lunges forward on his left leg, thereby giving the viewer a rear view. Helmeted and sword at his side, he wears a mantle loosely draped across his shoulders and caught by the rushing breeze. He protects himself with his shield on the left arm and attacks with a spear held high in his right hand. The shield device is a lion, drawn in black outline with only the hind part to be seen. Alexandre backs off to the left with her shield on her right arm to cover her retreat and her spear raised in her left. She wears a helmet rather than the kidaris (eastern head-dress), a jerkin decorated with dots and wavy lines, a short girt chiton with broad double vertical lines at center, and anaxyrides (eastern pants) decorated with alternating rows of large and small dots. Both are named by inscriptions, *A[*L]*E*C[*A]*N*D*R*E, A(l)ex(a)ndre *F*O*R*B*A*S, Phorbas.

On the exterior curve of the rim there is an egg pattern. The same runs in a frieze just below the main design at the point of carination. Around the foot is a reserved band.

Graffiti

Beside each figure their name is inscribed. Side A: *Q*E*S*E*U*S, Theseus. *A*N*D*R*O*M*A*X*E, Andromache. Side B: *A[*L]*E*C[*A]*N*D*R*E, A(l)ex(a)ndre *F*O*R*B*A*S, Phorbas.

Collection:

London, British Museum

Biliotti, 1864. From Tomb 56 at Kameiros

Citations and Bibliography

ARV2, 1213, 2

Smith 1896, 145; CVA, 5, 6-7, pls. 34, 2a,b, 35, 1

Von Bothmer 1957, 186, no. 100 and 189-190; Salzmann Necropole de Camire pl. 59; Kretschmer, Vaseninschriften 105 and 183