| Collection: | University Museum, University of Pennsylvania |
| Summary: | Side A: Herakles in combat with two Amazons |
| Ware: | Attic Black Figure |
| Painter: | In the manner of the Lysippides Painter |
| Context: | Said to be from Suessula |
| Date: | ca. 530 BC - ca. 520 BC |
| Dimensions: | H. 0.40 m, D. 0.29 m |
| Primary Citation: | |
| Shape: | Neck amphora |
| Period: | High Archaic |
Condition:
The surface of the amphora is worn and pitted, with much erosion of the white paint.
Decoration Description:
Side A: Herakles in combat with two Amazons. Herakles, striding in from the left with drawn sword, has forced an Amazon to her knees. A second Amazon stands on the right behind her fallen friend, her shield up in a defensive position. Herakles, his left leg off the ground to show momentum, is gripping his sword in his right hand and appears to have grabbed the headpiece on the helmet of the fallen Amazon. The Amazon is down on her right knee facing right, with her upper body turned forward and her head turned toward Herakles on the left. She has raised her shield and spear, but the spear is pointed at Herakles' leg while his sword is very near her neck and breast. The second Amazon will not be able to help, since her spear is still held down at her side. The bearded Herakles is dressed in a short red chiton with a decorative border, over which is tied the lion's skin. Herakles wears the lion's head over his own head so that the upper jaw of the lion covers the top of his head and the mane falls around his neck. The lion's front paws are tied on Herakles' chest and the skin is held in place by a red belt around the waist. The Amazons, their skin painted white, are dressed similarly. Both wear short chitons and cuirasses with a spiral pattern over the breasts and helmets with long cheek pieces and high crescents on the top. Long locks of hair fall from beneath the helmets and there are fillets tied over them. A tripod decorates the shield of the fallen Amazon, and a meander pattern the shield of the second Amazon.
Side B: Combat between an Amazon and two warriors. An Amazon is being forced to her knees by the Greek warriors to her left and right. She has her head turned toward the warrior on the left and raises her shield on this side, but her weapon hand is empty. Both warriors, shields up, have raised their spears. The warrior on the left plunges his sword downward, his left knee up as he puts force behind the effort. The warrior on the right stands ready to back him up. Amazon and warriors are dressed almost identically in short chitons with wrapped, striped skirts over which is worn a black cuirass with spiral designs over the chest. Dagger sheaths project from their waists. Their helmets, with high crescent top pieces, are similar, with the cheek pieces on the warriors' helmets covering more of the face. The warriors also wear greaves. They carry oval shields decorated with star motifs, and the Amazon carries a round shield decorated with a tripod.
Shape Description:
Neck amphora. The amphora has quadruple handles.
Collection History:
The amphora originally formed part of the Borelli Bey Collection. The University Museum, Philadelphia, purchased it from Canessa in 1916.
Other Bibliography: