DESCRIPTION

No C 02
Boston, Museum of Fine Arts 00.330
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 as the surrounding standing figures. The feet rest on a box-like footstool. The right forearm is extended 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 emerging from the head of Zeus in a sprinting position, head and legs in profile to the right, the body facing. Her dress consists of a peplos. She wears no helmet. She carries a shield, seen from the back, on the outstreched left arm, and holds a spear in the right hand.

There are two deities on each side of the picture. On the right a goddess, the right arm raised, with palm turned inward and extended fingers, the left arm hanging down with clenched fist, and Ares, characterised as such by helmet, shield, spear and greaves. On the left side the two gods are identified as Apollo, by the zither, and Hermes, by the petasos and the endromides.

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

A small figure of a winged sphinx is seen between the legs of the throne. The top of the wings and the head touch the underside of the seat.

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