Side A: red figure, Herakles and the Cretan bull (Andokides Ptr.)

Side B: black figure, Herakles and the Cretan bull (Lysippides Ptr.)

Side B: black figure, Herakles and the Cretan Bull

Side A: scene at center

Side A: Herakles, head

Side B: scene at center

Collection: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Summary: Sides A and B: Herakles and the Cretan bull.
Ware: Attic Bilingual
Painter: Attributed to the Andokides Painter and Lysippides Painter
Context: Possibly from Vulci
Date: ca. 525 BC - ca. 500 BC
Dimensions:

H. 0.532 m., D. 0.347 m.

Primary Citation: ABV, 255, 6; ARV2, 4, 12.
Shape: Amphora
Beazley Number: 200012
Region: Etruria
Period: Archaic


Decoration Description:

On sides A and B, nearly identical scenes of Herakles driving the Cretan Bull, that on side A in black figure, on side B in red figure. Herakles drives the bull to the right to sacrifice, holding a club in his right hand, and in his left a rope which passes around the horns of the bull, and a bundle of spits secured by slides. Herakles wears a short chiton, a lion skin, a belt, and has a sword and quiver slung at his left side and two wineskins over his left arm. The bull's head is filleted for sacrifice. Behind the bull, a tree.

On side A, added red is used for Herakles' beard, belt, quiver, one wineskin, and parts of the bull's mane and testicles, lines on its neck and ribs and one on the hindquarters. On side B, most of Herakles' figure has relief contour, and parts of the bull and the tree. Brown used for Herakles' knees, fingers and toes, wrist, elbows, the lion's eye and other details.

Shape Description:

Amphora Type A.

Essay:

C & B No. 115

Collection History:

In collection of Basseggio in 1842 and hence possible Vulci provenience. Later in collections of Joly de Bammeville and Forman.

Sources Used:

Caskey & Beazley, 3, 7-8