DESCRIPTION

No C 06
Berlin, Staatliche Museen 1699
Black-figure amphora from Vulci
Group E (Schn)

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 as the surrounding standing figures. The feet rest on a footstool. The right forearm is extended horizontally forward, the hand grasping a thunderbolt. The left arm is extended obliquely upward, the hand holding a staff. The god has a pointed beard and wears his long hair loose, with a narrow headband. His dress consists of a chiton and a himation, which covers the right arm and the left upper arm.

Athena is represented emerging from the head of Zeus in a sprinting position, head and legs in profile to the right, the body facing. Her dress presumably consists of a peplos and an epiblematon. She wears a helmet and carries a shield on the left arm, the right arm is raised with clenched fist.

There are two deities on each side of the picture. On the right a goddess, the arms extended obliquely upwards with palms turned towards each other and extended fingers, and Ares, characterised as such by helmet, shield, greaves and spear. On the left side the two gods are identified as Apollo, by the zither, and Poseidon, by the trident.

The throne has rectangular legs decorated with double palinettes and cut-out incisions round their stems. The throne is backless, but has a horse's head at the rear corner.

The small figure of a winged goddess is seen between the legs of the throne. The tops of her wings touch the underside of the seat.

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