Side A: Herakles and the Centaurs
Side A: scene at center
[Image not available]
Three-dimensional approximation of the vase
Three-dimensional approximation of the vase
| Collection: | London, British Museum |
| Summary: | Interior: youth with spear (hunter?). Side A: Herakles and the Centaurs. Side B: battle. |
| Ware: | Attic Red Figure |
| Painter: | Attributed to Epiktetos |
| Context: | From Spina |
| Date: | ca. 520 BC - ca. 490 BC |
| Dimensions: | H 10.3; D 23.3 |
| Primary Citation: | ARV2, 74, 35 |
| Shape: | Kylix |
| Beazley Number: | 200479 |
| Region: | Etruria |
| Period: | Archaic |
Condition:
The vase in is excellent condition.
Decoration Description:
Interior: youth with spear. A young man stands in combative attitude holding a spear in his right hand. He holds out his chlamys like a shield over his left arm.
A: Herakles and the Centaurs. Herakles battles three centaurs. Herakles, nude, has lunged forward brandishing a club against a centaur with spotted hide. The centaur turns round in an effort to hurl back a rock at Herakles; his front legs have buckled and he has fallen onto one knee. The centaur on the left makes ready to throw a large rock, and that on the right is armed with a small tree. The centaurs have long hair, beards and pointed ears. A sheathed sword and a quiver hang at Herakles' side.
B: battle. Five warriors armed with spear and shield engage in combat. The warrior in the center, in profile to the left, has fallen back onto his left knee, still holding onto his shield. Two companions rush to his rescue. The one in front thrusts his spear forward, his shield held up on his left arm. The man behind him runs alongside his horse, his spear and shield held ready. The first man's shield device is a running man. The warrior in the rear holds a shield with a lupin- or plane-leaf shield device. The shield device of the fallen warrior is the head of a bearded satyr. The two warriors attacking from the left are also accompanied by a horse. The man in front holds up his shield to fend off the spear thrust of the oncoming warrior, his own spear held at his side. His companion runs behind him, his horse running at his side. All five warriors wear the same type of high crested helmet but are otherwise naked. The fallen warrior wears a sheathed sword on a strap over his chest.
Shape Description:
For the shape see Bloesch: 134 no. 1. Note the off-set lip.
Inscriptions:
On the interior:
Sources Used:
Other Bibliography: