| Collection: | Berlin, Antikenmuseen |
| Summary: | Interior: Poseidon and giant. Sides A and B: gigantomachy. |
| Ware: | Attic Red Figure |
| Painter: | Signed by Aristophanes |
| Potter: | Signed by Erginos |
| Context: | From Vulci |
| Date: | ca. 410 BC - ca. 405 BC |
| Dimensions: | H. 13.0 cm., d. 35.0 cm., tondo 20.5 cm. |
| Primary Citation: | |
| Shape: | Cup |
| Beazley Number: | 220533 |
| Region: | Etruria |
| Period: | Classical |
Condition:
The vase is in fair condition. Some of the surface is encrusted, discolored or completely lost.
Decoration Description:
Interior: Poseidon and giant. Poseidon battles with Polybotes, who has fallen onto one knee. Poseidon threatens him with his raised trident and grabs hold of his neck. Polybotes responds by holding onto Poseidon's left arm, the one around his neck. Ge, rising from the ground on the left, gazes up at Poseidon, her hands held up, palms outward. Poseidon is naked but for a mantle draped over one arm. He also wears a wreath. Polybotes wears a chiton, cuirass and a crested helmet, and carries a shield and spear. Both men are bearded. Ge wears a chiton and a diadem.
Sides A and B: gigantomachy. Six figures battle on side A, six on side B. Zeus and Porphyrion are the central pair of combatants on side A. Zeus, on the left, holds a lightning bolt in his raised right hand, his staff held in his left hand. Porphyrion flees to the right but turns to look back at Zeus as he prepares to throw a large stone. His shield is raised protectively. Zeus wears only a wreath, his mantle draped over one arm. Athena battles Enkelados on the right. He has fallen onto one knee, his sword still sheathed and his shield on the wrong side. His head is turned toward Athena as she advances toward him, spear raised. Her left arm, covered by her aegis, is extended. She wears a chiton, bracelets and a crested helmet as well as the aegis. On the left, Artemis fights with two torches against Gaion. He has fallen onto his knee and is trying to push away the torches. He wears a panther skin, she a chiton and bracelets, her hair in a bun. In the center of side B Apollo battles the fleeing Ephialtes. Apollo, on the right, raises his sword over his head as he prepares to strike, his bow held in his other hand. His drapery flies behind him, wrapped around one arm and leg. Ephialtes flees to the left but looks back at Apollo, his spear raised in defense, his shield held on his left shoulder. Apollo wears only a wreath. On the left the helmeted, bearded Ares stabs his fallen opponent, Mimon, with a spear. Both men hold shields. On the right, Hera fights with Phoitos, who is down on one knee. He turns his head toward Hera and raises his sword, his shield over one shoulder. She, dressed in chiton, diadem, bracelets and flowing scarf, is ready to strike with her spear. All the giants, with the exception of Gaion, wear crested helmets. The shield device on all the shields is a snake.
Inscriptions:
The cup has been signed by both potter and painter on the interior, in the exergue:
Collection History:
The vase was found in Vulci in 1839, and subsequently came into the possession of the museum.
Sources Used:
Other Bibliography: