Berlin F 1720

Berlin F 1720 (Vase)

Side A: Herakles and the Nemean lionSide B: Demophon and Akamas

ID:: aa_5608
Type:: Vase
Date:: ca. -545 — ca. -540
Period:: Archaic
Context:: From Vulci
Region:: Etruria
Painter:: Signed by Exekias
Condition:: The preserved portions of the vase are in good condition, having suffered only slight surface discoloration.
Dimensions:: H. 40.5 cm.
Ware:: Attic Black Figure
Shape:: Belly amphora

Decoration Description

Side A: Herakles and the lion. Herakles battles the lion while Athena and Iolaos look on. The two combatants lunge at one another. Herakles grips the lion by one front paw and has locked his left arm around the lion's neck. The lion tries to push away, his right, rear paw pushing against Herakles' thigh, his mouth open in a snarl. Herakles is naked, except for a thin fillet over his hair. His beard is painted with added red. Athena stands on the right holding her shield. She wears a long, patterned chiton and a high-crested helmet. Iolaos strides in from the left, arms akimbo. He is also naked, and sports a red beard.

Side B: Demophon and Akamas. Demophon and Akamas walk their horses to the right; the horses are named Phalios and Kalliphora. Each man carries two spears on his left shoulder and a shield hanging down his back. Both men wear greaves and high-crested helmets. Demophon wears a patterned cuirass, and Akamas a short, black and red-striped garment. The shields are painted with added white.

Graffiti

On side A each of the figures is labelled. On the left, [*I]*O*L*A*O*S, Iolaos, written retrograde. Near Herakles' head: *E*R*A*K*L*E*S. On the far right, written retrograde: *A*Q*E[--, Athena (the *N*A*I*A is modern according to Furtwngler). On side B, behind the head of the figure on the left, written retrograde: *A*K*A*M*A*S, Akamas. In front of the figure on the right: [*D*E]*M*O*F*O*N, Demophon. Between the two figures: *F*A*L*I*O*S, Phalios. On the far right, written retrograde: *K*A*L*I*F*O*R*A, Kalliphora. Written retrograde between the two horses: *O*N*E*T*O*R*I*D*E*S *K*A*L*O*S, Onetorides is beautiful. *E*X*S*E*K*I*A*S *E*G*R*A*F*S*E *K*A[*P]*O*E*S*E*M*E, "Exekias painted and made (i.e. potted) me".