London E 104 (Vase)
Interior: Herakles and the Nemean Lion. Exterior: Side A: Herakles driving off the cattle of Geryon. Side B: Herakles (?) and the Cretan Bull
- ID:
- aa_5235
- Beazley Number:
- 217367
- Type:
- Vase
- Date:
- ca. -460 — ca. -450
- Period:
- Early Classical
- Context:
- Vulci
- Region:
- Etruria
- Painter:
- Attributed to the Painter of London E 105
- Dimensions:
-
H 11 1/4 inches
- Ware:
- Attic Red Figure
- Shape:
- Kylix
Decoration Description
Interior: Tondo: Herakles, youthful and beardless, bends forward to the right. He has locked both arms from above around the neck of the Nemean lion. With his head pressed downwards against its mane, compresses the throat so that its jaws are open and its tongue protruding. The lion's forepaws are planted firmly on the thighs of Herakles, whose club has fallen behind him. The contest takes place on rocky ground, indicated by an irregularly shaped space left red. The tondo is encircled within a band of single meanders interspersed with six red cross squares.
Exterior: Side A: Herakles moves to the right behind three bulls, the foremost of which, drawn almost in a frontal pose, turns back to look at Herakles. The hero is bearded and wears the lion's skin over his head and girt at the waist. He holds his club in his right hand and a cornucopia(?) in his left. In the background beside the hindmost bull is a leafless tree with six branches.
Exterior: Side B: Herakles, bending forward to the right, has caught the bull by both horns as it springs forward and seems to be forcing it backward. His head passes under that of the bull so that the bull's muzzle rests on the shoulders of Herakles. The hero is youthful here as in the tondo, distinguishable by the club which has dropped to his feet. In the background beside the bull, a bearded man stands looking on and raises his right hand as if in surprise. He is wearing a mantle and leans forward on his staff. On the right another bearded spectator carries a club on his left shoulder and raises his right hand in surprise. He wears a short girt chiton, the lower part of which is decorated with a border of vertical black rays, and a skin (a nebris?).
Beneath and beside the handles there is a quadruple palmette ornament.
- Collection:
- London, British Museum
Durand Collection, no. 298
Citations and Bibliography
ARV2, 1293, 1