Sujet

Attic Black-Figure Amphora, 550-540 BC. Creator: Lydos.

Légende

Attic Black-Figure Amphora, 550-540 BC. Storage Jar; Black-figured belly. Additional Info: The Minotaur, a monster with a bull's head and a human body, was the child of the Cretan queen and a bull for which she had developed an irresistible passion. The Minotaur lived in a labyrinth on Crete and devoured human sacrifices of youths and maidens sent as tribute from Athens. When the Greek hero Theseus finally killed the monster, he freed Athens from this horrible burden. The myth of Theseus and the Minotaur was very popular on Athenian vases in the late 500s BC In this rendition, Theseus plunges his sword through the monster's neck, while the freed youths and maidens watch. The Minotaur's uncivilized nature is apparent even in its choice of weapon - a rock, seen clutched in its raised hand. The back of the vase shows two youths mounted on horses, greeted by family members as they return home. Scenes of returning youths and warriors were frequent in Athenian vase-painting. The youths may be mythological figures such as the Dioskouroi, or they may simply be mortals.

Crédit

Photo12/Heritage Images/Heritage Art

Notre référence

HRM25A01_029

Model release

NA

Property release

NA

Licence

Droits gérés

Format disponible

40,0Mo (2,1Mo) / 27,3cm x 36,7cm / 3219 x 4340 (300dpi)

Mots clés

Europe standing female women woman people child children girl girls looking arts country art watching color fighting fight painted death archaeology ancient Greek Greece Athens terracotta ceramic location ceramics century jar archaeological vessel maiden youths saving HANDLE handles pottery concept killing vase mythology hero archeology heroic attic terra cotta saved Homeware heroism Colour mythical creature Athenian Minotaur Greek mythology 6th century BC amphora black figure mythical beast slaying TGN Theseus object young women young woman Maidens container vase painting Terracotta amphorae mythical creatures Heritage Art mythical beasts mythological creature amphoras vessel Amphora Lydos Wider Circle of Lydos