Herakles’ 2nd Labor: The Lernaian Hydra - III - "The Colors of the Etruscans” - The Recovered Artworks XXIII – Mythological Issues
Heracles second labor: the Hydra of Lerna.
The figurative frieze painted on the shoulder of this Attic amphora shows Herakles and Iolaus facing the Hydra in front of an enthroned Hera, the god Hermes and a standing woman. Three large bands decorated with friezes showing parades of animals and sirens complete the decoration.
The Hydra, an aquatic monster with multiple heads (from five to a hundred, according to ancient sources), son of Echidna and Tifone, was raised by Hera in the marsh of Lerna, in Argolis, under a plane tree, near the Amymone springs, just to be used as a trial for Hercules. The heads of the monster cut oft with the sword were able to regrow, nevertheless the hero managed to defeat it thanks to a trick inspired by Athena and calling for help his nephew lolaus: while the hero held the monster, lolaus cauterized every wound with embers taken from the fire set in the nearby forest.
The vase is attributed to the “Prometeus Painter” and belongs to the calls of the so-called “Tyrrhenian” amphorae, made by Attic workshops for the Western market and featuring mythological scenes combined with real and fantastic animals.
Source: exhibition catalogue
Attic black figure amphora
H. 40 cm.
Attributed to “The Prometeus Painter”
Ca. 560 BC.
Viterbo, National Archaeological Museum, Inv. No. 74989
Exhibition “Colors of the Eruscans” - Cat N. 41
Rome, Centrale Montemartini
Herakles’ 2nd Labor: The Lernaian Hydra - III - "The Colors of the Etruscans” - The Recovered Artworks XXIII – Mythological Issues
Heracles second labor: the Hydra of Lerna.
The figurative frieze painted on the shoulder of this Attic amphora shows Herakles and Iolaus facing the Hydra in front of an enthroned Hera, the god Hermes and a standing woman. Three large bands decorated with friezes showing parades of animals and sirens complete the decoration.
The Hydra, an aquatic monster with multiple heads (from five to a hundred, according to ancient sources), son of Echidna and Tifone, was raised by Hera in the marsh of Lerna, in Argolis, under a plane tree, near the Amymone springs, just to be used as a trial for Hercules. The heads of the monster cut oft with the sword were able to regrow, nevertheless the hero managed to defeat it thanks to a trick inspired by Athena and calling for help his nephew lolaus: while the hero held the monster, lolaus cauterized every wound with embers taken from the fire set in the nearby forest.
The vase is attributed to the “Prometeus Painter” and belongs to the calls of the so-called “Tyrrhenian” amphorae, made by Attic workshops for the Western market and featuring mythological scenes combined with real and fantastic animals.
Source: exhibition catalogue
Attic black figure amphora
H. 40 cm.
Attributed to “The Prometeus Painter”
Ca. 560 BC.
Viterbo, National Archaeological Museum, Inv. No. 74989
Exhibition “Colors of the Eruscans” - Cat N. 41
Rome, Centrale Montemartini