Odysseus The Great and Powerful - VIII
Odysseus meets the Sirens.
This side (A) of the stamnos shows the ship of Odysseus passing the Sirens. The sea is represented by a narrow space in the foreground shaded in thinned black, and with a wavy outline of the same color. In this the ship moves to left, propelled by oars, of which six are seen on the port side; the heads and shoulders of five bearded rowers are visible above the gunwale. High up in the stern seat sits the steersman between the two steering-oars, which work on cords attached to the ship's side. The fore part of the hull is formed like the snout of a boar, with a large eye of archaic form painted in black; above it is a raised platform or forecastle formed of crossed spars, which reaches to the mast. Odysseus, wreathed and bearded, is fastened against the bottom of the mast, facing the stern, with his arms behind his back lashed to it. His head is thrown back, looking upwards towards the Sirens. On each side of the scene a rocky promontory projects over the sea, with a Siren standing on the top. The Sirens are represented as birds with woman's heads, their hair looped up with a dotted stephane. The one on the left flaps her wings: over her is inscribed ΗΙΜEPΟΠΑ, Ίμερόπα. The one on the right stands still with folded wings. In front of her a third Siren flings herself down from the edge of the cliff, and falls headlong with closed eyes, as though already dead.
The side B) shows three Erotes flying over the sea.
Source: Museum WEB Site
CAT. Nr. 1843,1103.31&
Attic Red Figure Stamnos
Height: 35.56 centimetres
Attibuted to “The Siren Painter” by Hauser
Approx. 480 – 470 BC
From Vulci, Etruria
London, The British Museum
Odysseus The Great and Powerful - VIII
Odysseus meets the Sirens.
This side (A) of the stamnos shows the ship of Odysseus passing the Sirens. The sea is represented by a narrow space in the foreground shaded in thinned black, and with a wavy outline of the same color. In this the ship moves to left, propelled by oars, of which six are seen on the port side; the heads and shoulders of five bearded rowers are visible above the gunwale. High up in the stern seat sits the steersman between the two steering-oars, which work on cords attached to the ship's side. The fore part of the hull is formed like the snout of a boar, with a large eye of archaic form painted in black; above it is a raised platform or forecastle formed of crossed spars, which reaches to the mast. Odysseus, wreathed and bearded, is fastened against the bottom of the mast, facing the stern, with his arms behind his back lashed to it. His head is thrown back, looking upwards towards the Sirens. On each side of the scene a rocky promontory projects over the sea, with a Siren standing on the top. The Sirens are represented as birds with woman's heads, their hair looped up with a dotted stephane. The one on the left flaps her wings: over her is inscribed ΗΙΜEPΟΠΑ, Ίμερόπα. The one on the right stands still with folded wings. In front of her a third Siren flings herself down from the edge of the cliff, and falls headlong with closed eyes, as though already dead.
The side B) shows three Erotes flying over the sea.
Source: Museum WEB Site
CAT. Nr. 1843,1103.31&
Attic Red Figure Stamnos
Height: 35.56 centimetres
Attibuted to “The Siren Painter” by Hauser
Approx. 480 – 470 BC
From Vulci, Etruria
London, The British Museum