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拍品专文
This amphora is remarkable for its clear depiction of armour as worn by the ancient Greek warrior, and how the same armour was also incorporated by artists in their depictions of mythological events, where it is similarly worn by both heroes and monsters.
In one such mythological event, Herakles’ Tenth Labor called for the hero to journey to the edge of the world to capture the cattle of the three-headed monster Geryon for Eurystheus, King of Mycenae. After traveling far west, the hero crossed Okeanos in the goblet of Helios and eventually arrived on the island of Erytheia, where Geryon dwelled with his cattle, guarded by the herdsman Eurytion and the two-headed dog Orthros. Herakles was successful in his endeavor. After vanquishing the cattle’s guards, Herakles then slayed Geryon himself. The fight between Herakles and Geryon was a popular subject on Greek vases and makes its first appearance on a Protocorinthian pyxis from the 7th century B.C. It was a favorite theme for Attic vase-painters working in the black-figure technique during the mid to late 6th century B.C., where its occurrence is recorded on more than 70 vases (see pp. 126-127 in T.H. Carpenter, Art and Myth in Ancient Greece).
The obverse of this amphora features Herakles attacking Geryon. The hero is depicted wearing a short chiton, a baldric and his characteristic lion-skin skin over his head, the forepaws knotted at his chest with the hind legs and tail falling behind. In his right hand he brandishes a sword and with his outstretched left hand he reaches towards Geryon, who is depicted as a triple-headed, triple-bodied monster. Geryon is armed with greaves, crested Corinthian helmets, spears and shields. Eurytion collapses on the ground between them. For a similar depiction of the scene, see the amphora in the British Museum attributed to the Group of London B 250, p. 340 in J.D. Beazley, Attic Black-figure Vase-painters.
On the reverse is a departure scene centered by a warrior preparing for battle. In the center, the bearded male leans forward and lifts one leg to put on a greave. Below him, near the groundline, is a crested Corinthian helmet. To the right a woman clad in a chiton and himation holds a spear and a circular shield. The pair is flanked on either side by fully armed warriors.
In one such mythological event, Herakles’ Tenth Labor called for the hero to journey to the edge of the world to capture the cattle of the three-headed monster Geryon for Eurystheus, King of Mycenae. After traveling far west, the hero crossed Okeanos in the goblet of Helios and eventually arrived on the island of Erytheia, where Geryon dwelled with his cattle, guarded by the herdsman Eurytion and the two-headed dog Orthros. Herakles was successful in his endeavor. After vanquishing the cattle’s guards, Herakles then slayed Geryon himself. The fight between Herakles and Geryon was a popular subject on Greek vases and makes its first appearance on a Protocorinthian pyxis from the 7th century B.C. It was a favorite theme for Attic vase-painters working in the black-figure technique during the mid to late 6th century B.C., where its occurrence is recorded on more than 70 vases (see pp. 126-127 in T.H. Carpenter, Art and Myth in Ancient Greece).
The obverse of this amphora features Herakles attacking Geryon. The hero is depicted wearing a short chiton, a baldric and his characteristic lion-skin skin over his head, the forepaws knotted at his chest with the hind legs and tail falling behind. In his right hand he brandishes a sword and with his outstretched left hand he reaches towards Geryon, who is depicted as a triple-headed, triple-bodied monster. Geryon is armed with greaves, crested Corinthian helmets, spears and shields. Eurytion collapses on the ground between them. For a similar depiction of the scene, see the amphora in the British Museum attributed to the Group of London B 250, p. 340 in J.D. Beazley, Attic Black-figure Vase-painters.
On the reverse is a departure scene centered by a warrior preparing for battle. In the center, the bearded male leans forward and lifts one leg to put on a greave. Below him, near the groundline, is a crested Corinthian helmet. To the right a woman clad in a chiton and himation holds a spear and a circular shield. The pair is flanked on either side by fully armed warriors.