| Collection: | Paris, Musée du Louvre |
| Summary: | Side A: Menelaos and Helen |
| Ware: | Attic Red Figure |
| Painter: | Attributed to Oltos |
| Potter: | Signed by Pamphaios |
| Date: | ca. 520 BC |
| Dimensions: | H. 0.37 m |
| Primary Citation: | |
| Shape: | Amphora |
| Beazley Number: | 200435 |
| Period: | Late Archaic |
Decoration Description:
The neck on both sides shows a running Nereid wearing a short chiton and sakkos and carrying a dolphin in each hand. They are the sisters of Thetis, the mother of Achilles. On each handle a helmeted warrior is shown, without shield.
The two sides of the main panel are separated at the handle zones by palmette designs. On side A, the child Achilles is held in the right of hand of Chiron the centaur. Chiron is depicted as a man in front with the back and hind legs of a horse projecting out behind. His human form is wearing a himation and mantle that leave his right shoulder and arm bare. In his left hand he holds a young tree trunk against his shoulder; from its branches a dead hare hangs. In his right hand sits Achilles, dressed identically to Chiron.
On side B, Menelaos is shown grasping Helen by the left hand. Menelaos is wearing a short chiton, helmet and greaves. In his right hand he brandishes his sword, whose scabbard hangs from a baldric over his right shoulder. Helen wears a long chiton and bracelet and moves away from Menelaos, heading right.
The scenes are bordered above by a band of tongues. Below, projecting up from the base is a flame pattern.
Shape Description: Nikosthenic amphora
Inscriptions:
On side B the names of Menelaos and Helen are inscribed,
Sources Used: