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Main panel: Triptolemos

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Three-dimensional approximation of the vase

Collection: London, British Museum
Summary: Demeter, Triptolemos, and Hekate
Ware: Attic Red Figure
Painter: Attributed to the Pothos Painter
Context: From Nola
Date: 480 BC - 440 BC
Dimensions:

H 0.435m
Primary Citation: ARV2, 1191, 1
Shape: Hydria
Beazley Number: 215772
Region: Campania
Period: Early Classical

Decoration Description:

The scene shows the sending forth of Triptolemos by Demeter and Hekate. At the center, Triptolemos faces right, sitting on his winged car with his feet resting on a foot-board. With his head bowed towards Demeter, he holds a lotus scepter in his left hand and a phiale or libation bowl in his right. Wreathed and youthful, he wears a himation or mantle with a striped border. On the right Demeter stands in a frontal pose facing Triptolemos, pouring a libation from an oinochoe with her right hand and holding a lotus scepter with her left. The phiale overflows. Demeter wears a long bordered chiton with an apotygma (overfold) girt and on her head: earrings and a radiated stephane with an egg pattern. Further right (within the handle of the vase) stands Hekate in a frontal pose facing Demeter and holding high two flaming torches. She wears a Doric chiton with apoptygma (overfold) and has her hair knotted with a radiated fillet. Above each of the figures are their names, *T*R*I*P*T*O*L*E*M*O*S, Triptolemos, *D*H*M*H*T*H*R, Demeter,*E*K*A*T*H, Hekate. At the far right a woman rushes left wearing a radiated sphendone (tapered headband), a sleeved chiton, and mantle and holding a tripod situla in her right hand while gathering her garments with her left. To the left of Triptolemos, Persephone stands in a frontal pose, facing left. She is dressed like Demeter and also holds a lotus scepter, but has her hair looped up and wears earrings. She extends her right hand to a woman (placed within the handle) who advances from the left, holding two blazing torches. With a head-dress like that of her counterpart Hekate, she wears a long, sleeved chiton and mantle. At the far left stands the aged figure of Pluto/Hades with white hair and beard. Draped in a long chiton and mantle, he holds a scepter in his right hand and a large cornucopia filled with fruits in his left.

On the lower part of the outer curve of the rim is a band with a egg pattern. At the base of the neck there is a myrtle wreath with added red stems and berries. The design curves up over the shoulder, continuing around to the back handle, below which is drawn an elaborate double eleven-leafed palmette with spiraliform tendrils terminating in flowers and buds. At the base of each handle is a band with tongue pattern. Beneath the main design runs a frieze with six meanders alternating with dotted checker squares.

Inscriptions:

Above each of the figures are their names, *T*R*I*P*T*O*L*E*M*O*S, Triptolemos, *D*H*M*H*T*H*R, Demeter,*E*K*A*T*H, Hekate

Graffiti:

On the bottom of the foot *L*H

Collection History:

Castellani, 1868. Found in 1826 on the property of Sig. Cucuzza.

Sources Used:

Smith 1896, 160-161,; CVA, 6, 3, pl. 84, 2a-c