upper register: Olympic deities - lower register: Trojan celebrities
Etruscan mirror from Vulci [325-300 BC] -
Paris BNF wm;
The mirror, whose handle in perishable material has disappeared, presents on the back of the formerly polished disc, on three registers, a complex decoration with thirteen characters, identified by engraved inscriptions.
main decor, upper register:
Hercules (Herclé) presenting Eros (Epiur) to Jupiter (Tinia). The latter, in the center, is seated on a richly decorated throne. His chest is bare but his legs are wrapped in a chlamys decorated with embroidery. In his left hand, he holds his thunderbolt which is leaning on his shoulder. His feet rest on a stepladder supported by two sphinxes. His head, diademed, is turned to the left, in the direction of little Eros (Epiur) carried by Hercules (Herclé). The hero is diademed, beardless and naked. He faces the viewer and looks at Jupiter. He carries his club, leaning on his shoulder with his right hand and holds Eros with his left arm covered with lion skin. The child is naked, his wings outstretched. On either side of this central group are depicted two goddesses seated on richly decorated stools. The one behind Jupiter is an Etruscan Venus, Thalna. A swan is placed at her feet. Behind Hercules is another Etruscan Venus (Turan). She leans with her right hand on a scepter adorned with a pomegranate. A branch of myrtle is placed at her feet.
main decoration, lower register:
In the center Hélène (Elina), dressed in a rich Phrygian costume and seated on a throne decorated with lion heads. She presents her hand to a bearded and richly dressed man arriving from the right, Agamemnon (aχmemrun). The king of Mycenae has his head covered with his shroud. Between them, and facing the spectators, is shown Menelaus (Menle) simply dressed in a chlamys. He leans with his left hand on a spear and holds a phial in his right hand. On the other side of Helena is represented Pâris-Alexandros (elχsntre), half-naked, facing left. He holds a spear in his right hand and walks towards Mean (Etruscan deity personifying Victory), who presents him with a large band. A doe is standing at his feet. Behind her stands Aevas (Memnon or Ajax) beardless and naked. He is simply wearing a Phrygian cap.
main decor, at the bottom:
Lasa racuneta lying on a flower chalice. She is naked and diademed. Her neck is adorned with a collar and her wings are spread. She holds an alabastron (perfume vase) in her left hand and a sort of stylus in her right.
Source: BNF
medaillesetantiques.bnf.fr/ws/catalogue/app/collection/re...
upper register: Olympic deities - lower register: Trojan celebrities
Etruscan mirror from Vulci [325-300 BC] -
Paris BNF wm;
The mirror, whose handle in perishable material has disappeared, presents on the back of the formerly polished disc, on three registers, a complex decoration with thirteen characters, identified by engraved inscriptions.
main decor, upper register:
Hercules (Herclé) presenting Eros (Epiur) to Jupiter (Tinia). The latter, in the center, is seated on a richly decorated throne. His chest is bare but his legs are wrapped in a chlamys decorated with embroidery. In his left hand, he holds his thunderbolt which is leaning on his shoulder. His feet rest on a stepladder supported by two sphinxes. His head, diademed, is turned to the left, in the direction of little Eros (Epiur) carried by Hercules (Herclé). The hero is diademed, beardless and naked. He faces the viewer and looks at Jupiter. He carries his club, leaning on his shoulder with his right hand and holds Eros with his left arm covered with lion skin. The child is naked, his wings outstretched. On either side of this central group are depicted two goddesses seated on richly decorated stools. The one behind Jupiter is an Etruscan Venus, Thalna. A swan is placed at her feet. Behind Hercules is another Etruscan Venus (Turan). She leans with her right hand on a scepter adorned with a pomegranate. A branch of myrtle is placed at her feet.
main decoration, lower register:
In the center Hélène (Elina), dressed in a rich Phrygian costume and seated on a throne decorated with lion heads. She presents her hand to a bearded and richly dressed man arriving from the right, Agamemnon (aχmemrun). The king of Mycenae has his head covered with his shroud. Between them, and facing the spectators, is shown Menelaus (Menle) simply dressed in a chlamys. He leans with his left hand on a spear and holds a phial in his right hand. On the other side of Helena is represented Pâris-Alexandros (elχsntre), half-naked, facing left. He holds a spear in his right hand and walks towards Mean (Etruscan deity personifying Victory), who presents him with a large band. A doe is standing at his feet. Behind her stands Aevas (Memnon or Ajax) beardless and naked. He is simply wearing a Phrygian cap.
main decor, at the bottom:
Lasa racuneta lying on a flower chalice. She is naked and diademed. Her neck is adorned with a collar and her wings are spread. She holds an alabastron (perfume vase) in her left hand and a sort of stylus in her right.
Source: BNF
medaillesetantiques.bnf.fr/ws/catalogue/app/collection/re...