Phaedra's love-sickness - Combat of Centaur and Lapithae
calyx-krater [350BC-340BC]
London BM 1870,0710.2 Side A
(Side A)
1.) On the upper row:
Phaedra's love-sickness:
In the centre is a large couch, the legs inlaid with palmettes, and volutes and Gorgoneia above; along the front, spirals and other patterns; on the couch is a mattress with lozenge-pattern and an embroidered purple cushion at each end; beneath it is a large low stool with inlaid patterns in white, yellow, and purple. In front of it are two female attendants confronted; the one on the left holds up a large white fan in right hand and extends left hand to the other, whose hands are placed behind her head. The first wears earrings, double necklace, bracelets, long chiton and apoptygma to hips with border of dots, and sandals; her hair is gathered under a close cap. The other wears earrings, double necklace, long transparent chiton, and shoes; her hair rises in a mass over the forehead and falls on the shoulders. On the left is Phaedra, seated on a four-legged cushioned stool to right, with downcast face; her legs are crossed and her hands clasped on her right knee; her feet rest on a footstool. Her hair is gathered up under an ampyx and veil, and she wears earrings, double necklace, bracelets, long chiton, and sandals; behind her, above, hangs an Apulian sistrum, tied with a purple taenia. Before Phaedra hovers Eros to left, represented on a smaller scale, with long hair and sandals, holding out a taenia; behind her is the nurse to right, with white hair, long girt chiton, and himation, right hand supporting her chin, left extended. On the right is a paidagogos to right, with white hair and beard, short girt chiton, bordered himation, endromides with white tops turned over, and crook in left hand; his right hand is extended as if conversing with a female figure confronting him. She wears earrings, necklace, veil, long chiton, and himation; her right hand is placed under her chin. Above, behind the old man, hangs a cista, on which are painted human figures in white.
2) On the lower row
Combat of Centaur and Lapithae: A Centaur advancing from right with wreath, panther-skin knotted in front, ridge of thick hair below waist, and a branch in left arm, seizes Laodameia by left arm and round neck; she has just stepped down to right from a chair, which has highly ornamented legs and cushion (as above). She has long hair with stephane, earrings, triple necklace, long transparent embroidered chiton, and sandals; her right foot is placed on a footstool, and she looks back at Peirithoos, who advances and seizes the Centaur's right arm. He is beardless, with short curly hair, chlamys over left arm, and sword in right hand. Above them is incised respectively: ΛΑΟΔΑΜΕΙΑ, Λαοδάμεια, and ΠΕΙΡIΘΟΟΣ, Πειρίθοος. Behind Peirithoos is a female figure retreating and looking back, with white taenia in her hair, long bordered chiton with apoptygma, and broad white scarf floating behind, sandals, bracelet on right arm; both hands are extended in astonishment. On the right Theseus advances, beardless, with chlamys over left arm, his left hand extended to seize the Centaur, whom he is about to strike with a club in right hand; he is inscribed: ΘΗΣΕΥΣ, Θήσευς. Behind him is a female figure retreating and looking back, with ampyx, hair tied in a knot with taenia, earrings, double necklace, bracelets, long chiton and himation drawn forward in left hand, and sandals. Below the Centaur is a yellow situla or cotyle. The ground-lines of both scenes are indicated by white dots.
Phaedra's love-sickness - Combat of Centaur and Lapithae
calyx-krater [350BC-340BC]
London BM 1870,0710.2 Side A
(Side A)
1.) On the upper row:
Phaedra's love-sickness:
In the centre is a large couch, the legs inlaid with palmettes, and volutes and Gorgoneia above; along the front, spirals and other patterns; on the couch is a mattress with lozenge-pattern and an embroidered purple cushion at each end; beneath it is a large low stool with inlaid patterns in white, yellow, and purple. In front of it are two female attendants confronted; the one on the left holds up a large white fan in right hand and extends left hand to the other, whose hands are placed behind her head. The first wears earrings, double necklace, bracelets, long chiton and apoptygma to hips with border of dots, and sandals; her hair is gathered under a close cap. The other wears earrings, double necklace, long transparent chiton, and shoes; her hair rises in a mass over the forehead and falls on the shoulders. On the left is Phaedra, seated on a four-legged cushioned stool to right, with downcast face; her legs are crossed and her hands clasped on her right knee; her feet rest on a footstool. Her hair is gathered up under an ampyx and veil, and she wears earrings, double necklace, bracelets, long chiton, and sandals; behind her, above, hangs an Apulian sistrum, tied with a purple taenia. Before Phaedra hovers Eros to left, represented on a smaller scale, with long hair and sandals, holding out a taenia; behind her is the nurse to right, with white hair, long girt chiton, and himation, right hand supporting her chin, left extended. On the right is a paidagogos to right, with white hair and beard, short girt chiton, bordered himation, endromides with white tops turned over, and crook in left hand; his right hand is extended as if conversing with a female figure confronting him. She wears earrings, necklace, veil, long chiton, and himation; her right hand is placed under her chin. Above, behind the old man, hangs a cista, on which are painted human figures in white.
2) On the lower row
Combat of Centaur and Lapithae: A Centaur advancing from right with wreath, panther-skin knotted in front, ridge of thick hair below waist, and a branch in left arm, seizes Laodameia by left arm and round neck; she has just stepped down to right from a chair, which has highly ornamented legs and cushion (as above). She has long hair with stephane, earrings, triple necklace, long transparent embroidered chiton, and sandals; her right foot is placed on a footstool, and she looks back at Peirithoos, who advances and seizes the Centaur's right arm. He is beardless, with short curly hair, chlamys over left arm, and sword in right hand. Above them is incised respectively: ΛΑΟΔΑΜΕΙΑ, Λαοδάμεια, and ΠΕΙΡIΘΟΟΣ, Πειρίθοος. Behind Peirithoos is a female figure retreating and looking back, with white taenia in her hair, long bordered chiton with apoptygma, and broad white scarf floating behind, sandals, bracelet on right arm; both hands are extended in astonishment. On the right Theseus advances, beardless, with chlamys over left arm, his left hand extended to seize the Centaur, whom he is about to strike with a club in right hand; he is inscribed: ΘΗΣΕΥΣ, Θήσευς. Behind him is a female figure retreating and looking back, with ampyx, hair tied in a knot with taenia, earrings, double necklace, bracelets, long chiton and himation drawn forward in left hand, and sandals. Below the Centaur is a yellow situla or cotyle. The ground-lines of both scenes are indicated by white dots.