DESCRIPTION

No C 17
Copenhagen, Nationalmuseum VIII 375
Black-figure lekythos from Vulci

Zeus is seated on a folding stool. He is represented with head and legs in profile to the right, the body diagonally. Seated, he is almost as tall as the surrounding standing figures. The feet rest on a footstool. The right forearm is extended almost horizontally forward, the hand holding a staff, the left forearm is extended obliquely upward, the hand grasping a thunderbolt. The god has a pointed beard and wears his long hair loose. His dress consists of a chiton and a himation, which covers the right shoulder and the left 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. She wears a helmet and carries a shield on the left arm; the right arm is extended horizontally sideward.

There are six other deities in the picture, but only five of them are concerned in the event. On the right side stand a goddess, the arms raised with palms turned to each other and extended fingers, Hermes, identified by the petasos, and Ares, characterised as such by helmet, shield, spear and greaves. On the left side stand a goddess, the arms raised, with palms turned inward and extended fingers, Hephaistos, identified by the axe, and next to him a second warrior with helmet and shield, represented in profile to the left.

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