Loutrophoros

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Provision of image

Inventory number

ΝΑ 1957 Αα 757

Artist

The Methyse Painter

Category

Vessel

Period

Classical Period

Date

Mid 5th cent. BC

Dimensions

Height: 0.5 m
Body diameter: 0.284 m

Material

Clay

Location

Gallery of the Acropolis Slopes, Case 5, No 55

Description
Bibliography

Fragmentarily preserved loutrophoros-hydria decorated in the red-figure technique. It was found in 1957 in the Sanctuary of the Nymphe in fragments, was pieced together and restored.

On the vase’s neck the feet of four women and a man who participate in a wedding procession can be seen. The vase’s body is decorated with the mythical wedding of Admetus and Alcestis with the attendance of other gods. The identity of the figures is recognised by their inscribed names: ΑΣΣΜΕΣΤΟΣ (Admetus), ΑΛΚΕΣΤΙΣ (Alcestis), ΑΠΟΛΛΟΝ (Apollo), Α[ΡΤΕ]ΜΙΣ (Artemis), Π[ΕΙΘΩ] (Peitho).

On the vessel’s one side the transportation of the bride to the groom’s house by a chariot is presented. Admetus is about to get on the chariot where Alcestis is waiting for him. Next to him stands Apollo with a wreath on his head and a lyre in his hands, ready to accompany the hymenaios song. On the loutrophoros' other side Artemis in the role of nympheutria holds lit torches. To her right Hermes wearing winged sandals holds a deer, the goddess’ sacred animal. To the left Peitho carries a lebes filled with wheat ears which symbolise fertility. She turns towards a figure standing in front of a door, perhaps a relative of the groom who welcomes the wedding procession.

BAPD, Beazley Archive Pottery Database, www.beazley.ox.ac.uk, αρ. κατ. 207336
AVI, Attic Vase Inscriptions / Attische Vaseninschriften - www.avi.unibas.ch, αρ. κατ. AVI 0209
Beazley, J.D., Attic Red-figure Vase-painters, 2nd edition, Oxford, 1963, σελ. 632.1
Sutton, R., The interaction between men and women portrayed on Attic red-figure pottery (διδακτορική διατριβή), The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1981, σελ. 237, αρ. κατ. W.2
LIMC I, Alkestis, σελ. 534-535, αρ. κατ. 2
LIMC II, Artemis, σελ. 735-736, αρ. κατ. 1440
LIMC II, Apollon, σελ. 288, αρ. κατ. 852
Shapiro, H.A., Personifications in Greek Art, The Representation of Abstract Concepts 600-400 BC, Zurich, 1993, σελ. 106 υποσημ. 226, 201 υποσημ. 463, 205, 259, αρ. κατ. 126
Winkler, H., Loutrophorie. Ein Hochzeitskult auf attischen Vasenbildern, 1999, Freiburg, σελ. 229, αρ. κατ. 576
Kyrkou, M., «Réalité iconographique et tradition littéraire. Noces d' Admète et d'Alceste», στο J.C. Balty, N. Icard-Gianolio, L.G. Kahil, P. Linant de Bellefonds (επιμ.), Agathos Daimon: mythes et cultes. Études d'iconographie en l'honneur de Lilly Kahil, Αθήνα, 2000, σελ. 288-295, αρ. κατ. 1-11
Smith, A.C., Polis and personification in classical Athenian art, Leiden, 2011, σελ. 58, αρ. κατ. DR 27
Gondek, R., Dress and Nuptial Imagery in Athenian Vase Painting (διδακτορική διατριβή), University of Virginia, 2013, σελ. 222-223, 385, εικ. 83a-b, αρ. κατ. CV.29