No C 04
Würzburg, University, Martin von Wagner Museum L 250
Black-figure amphora from Vulci
Group E

Zeus is seated on a throne. He is represented with head and legs in profile to the right, the body almost facing. Seated, he is almost as tall an the surrounding standing figures. The right forearm is extended almost horizontally forward, the hand grasping a thunderbolt. The left arm is raised, the hand with extended fingers seen on the palm. The god has a pointed beard and wears his long hair loose. His dress consists of a chiton and a himation, which covers the upper arms.

Athena is represented standing on the lap of Zeus, head and legs in profile to the right, the body facing. Her dress presumably consists of a peplos, an epiblematon and the aigis. The aigis is bordered by a fringe of serpents. The goddess wears no helmet and carries a shield on the left arm.

There are two deities on each side of the picture. On the right a goddess, the right arm raised, with palms turned inward and extended fingers, the left arm hanging down with clenched fist, and a god without any attribute, dressed in a chiton and a himation, presumably Poseidon. 1) On the left side the two gods are identified as Apollo, by the zither, and Hermes, by the petasos.

The throne has rectangular legs decorated with double palmettes and cut-out incisions round their stems. The throne is backless.

The small figure of a bearded man is seen between the legs of the throne; he is dressed in a chiton and a himation, which covers his arms completely. The top of the head touches the underside of the seat.

1)    cf. no 13 and 13 A

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