Side A: Herakles fighting Nessos with onlookers to left
Side A: overview
Side B: overview
Side A: Herakles fighting Nessos, Deianeira and centaur to right
Side B: horsemen
| Collection: | Munich, Antikensammlungen |
| Summary: | Side A: Herakles and Nessos. Side B: Horsemen. |
| Ware: | Attic Black Figure |
| Painter: | Attributed to the Fallow Deer Painter |
| Attributed By: | D. von Bothmer |
| Context: | From Vulci |
| Date: | ca. 550 BC - ca. 540 BC |
| Dimensions: | H 0. 363 m., diameter of rim ca. 0.15 m., diameter of foot 0.11 m. |
| Primary Citation: | |
| Shape: | Tyrrhenian amphora |
| Beazley Number: | 310039 |
| Region: | Etruria |
| Period: | Archaic |
Decoration Description:
Side A: Herakles fighting the centaur Nessos. Herakles pursues the fleeing centaur with raised sword. He is wearing the lion's skin over a white chiton. His scabbard is fastened with a white strap to his back. The centaur has fallen under the onslaught and raises his right hand in a gesture of submission, holding Deianeira in his left arm. She also raises her right hand. Her peplos is decorated along the hem with white dots. Behind Herakles stands Athena, leaning on her spear. She is rendered with red hair, wearing a high crested helmet and a mantle with red lining over a long garment with red top. To the right of Nessos a second centaur is watching the battle. His beard, hair and chest are painted red and he holds a tree in both hands, prepared to fight.
The space behind Athena is occupied by a group of two youths and a young girl. The girl in the center stands with both hands raised, holding a wreath in her left. The members of the group are dressed in chiton and mantle, which are carelessly painted in red. The skin of the women is rendered in white.
The background of the panel is marked by meaningless inscriptions.
Side B: Four equestrians, who are nude and beardless, gallop to the right. The first three horsemen are followed by a group of birds in flight. Three riders hold the reigns tightly in both hands; the second in line holds the rein only in his left, his right placed behind him onto the back of the horse. The chest of the first two horsemen and the necks of the horses are carelessly painted in red. The mane of the second horse from the right is painted in white.
Two animal friezes circle the amphora above and below the panels.
Upper Animal Frieze A: Antithetical sphinxes are flanked by two lions whose heads are turned backwards. The tongue of the left lion is visible. The left lion is also part of the next group below the handle, consisting of two antithetical swans with curved necks and bowed heads placed between antithetical lions. The remaining part of B is occupied by antithetical swans between antithetical sirens. Below the right handle of B is painted a bird in flight.
Lower Animal Frieze A: A stag is flanked by panthers.
Animal Frieze B: The frieze is not centered. Two antithetical stags flank a panther.
Graffiti:
Meaningless inscriptions on the background of panel A.
Collection History:
Formerly Collection Candelori.
Sources Used:
Other Bibliography:
Ancient Art from New York Private Collections., 169, no. 2.