Vase Painting and Theatrical Performances.
Purification of Orestes at Delphi inspired by Aeschylus’ tragedy “Eumenides”.
On the left is an Ionic column, indicating the temple, and by it a “bucranion” with wreath, from which hangs a sacrificial “vitta”, band or decoration of sacred persons and sacred things. Orestes to left, beardless, with white pilos at back of neck, and bordered chlamys over left arm, kneels on left knee at the base of the “omphalos”, clinging to it with left arm, with sword extended in right hand as if to ward off the Furies, and sheath in left; the omphalos is covered with the “agrenon”. Behind Orestes stands Apollo with two laurel-leaves in right hand, with which he sprinkles the blood over him; he is beardless, with hair in a knot, bordered chlamys and laurel-branch over left arm, in left hand a phiale. On the altar are two large acanthus-leaves; it bears an imitation inscription, apparently modern.
Apulian red figured bell krater
Height: 34.29 cm.
Attributed to “The Eumenides Painter”
380 – 360 BC
From Puglia
London, The British Museum – F166 – Inv. No. 1772,0320.96
Vase Painting and Theatrical Performances.
Purification of Orestes at Delphi inspired by Aeschylus’ tragedy “Eumenides”.
On the left is an Ionic column, indicating the temple, and by it a “bucranion” with wreath, from which hangs a sacrificial “vitta”, band or decoration of sacred persons and sacred things. Orestes to left, beardless, with white pilos at back of neck, and bordered chlamys over left arm, kneels on left knee at the base of the “omphalos”, clinging to it with left arm, with sword extended in right hand as if to ward off the Furies, and sheath in left; the omphalos is covered with the “agrenon”. Behind Orestes stands Apollo with two laurel-leaves in right hand, with which he sprinkles the blood over him; he is beardless, with hair in a knot, bordered chlamys and laurel-branch over left arm, in left hand a phiale. On the altar are two large acanthus-leaves; it bears an imitation inscription, apparently modern.
Apulian red figured bell krater
Height: 34.29 cm.
Attributed to “The Eumenides Painter”
380 – 360 BC
From Puglia
London, The British Museum – F166 – Inv. No. 1772,0320.96