[Image not available]
Three-dimensional approximation of the vase
Side B: detail of lion's head
Side B: Herakles and the Nemean lion, with Athena at left and Iolaos at ri...
Side B: Herakles and the Nemean lion, with Athena at left and Iolaos at ri...
Side B: Herakles, from the waist up, and the Nemean lion, head
| Collection: | London, British Museum |
| Summary: | Side A (BF): Achilles and Ajax playing. Side B (RF): Herakles and the lion. |
| Ware: | Attic Bilingual |
| Painter: | Attributed to the Andokides Painter |
| Context: | From Etruria |
| Date: | ca. 520 BC |
| Dimensions: | H. 0.546 m. |
| Primary Citation: | |
| Shape: | Belly amphora |
| Beazley Number: | 200008 |
| Region: | Etruria |
| Period: | Archaic |
Decoration Description:
Side A: Black Figure. Ajax and Achilles playing a board game. Achilles is seated at right, bearded, wearing a high-crested helmet and a fillet, a short chiton, chlamys, cuirass, thigh-guards and greaves, all ornamented. In his left hand he holds two spears, and he stretches out his right hand to the board game, on which six counters are visible. Behind him is a Boeotian shield. Ajax, seated at the left, is similarly attired and equipped. The figures are not labelled; they are identified by their close resemblance to the vase by Exekias showing the same subject.
Side B: Red Figure. Herakles wrestling the Nemean Lion. Herakles is nude except for a red fillet around his head. He is on his knees and holds the lion upside down on his shoulder, grasping the lion's forepaw with his right hand and the lion's shoulders with his left arm. The lion digs its hind paws into Herakles' shoulders. To the left, Athena, wearing long hair, a high-crested ornamented helmet with a fillet, an aegis with scales and a fringe of snakes, long chiton, and holding a spear in her right hand. She extends her left hand to Herakles. On the right, Iolaos moves away to the right, looking back towards Herakles and Athena. He is nude except for a fillet, and has a sword at his side and holds Herakles' club.