No C 20
Berlin, Staatliche Museen F 1704
Black-figure amphora from Cerveteri
The Tyrrhenian Group

Zeus identified by his name (Δβευς), is seated on a throne. He is represented with head and legs in profile to the right, the body facing. Seated he is almost as tall as the surrounding standing figures. The right forearm is extended horizontally forward, with cleched hand. The left arm is extended obliquely upward, the hand grasping a thunderbolt. The god has a pointed beard and wears his long hair loose, with a headband. His dress consists of a chiton and a himation, which covers the left arm.

Athena, identified by her name (Αθηναια), 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, carries a shield, seen from the back, on the left arm and holds a spear in the right hand.

There are four deities on each side of the picture. On the right stand a goddess, the arms extended obliquely upward with palms turned to each other and extended fingers, a deity with a staff, another deity and a god with bow and arrow beside a folding stool. These deities are respectively idetified by some fragmentary inscriptions as Demeter (δηΜΕΤΕΡ), Poseidon (...ΣΕΙ...), Aphrodite (ΑΦροδιτη) and Apollo (ΑΠΟΛΟΝ). On the left side stand Eileithuia (ΗΕΛΕΙΘΥΙΑ) the arm extended obliquely upward with palms turned to each other and extended fingers, Hermes Koleinios (ΕΡΜΕΣ ΕΙΜΙ ΚΩΛΕΙΝΙΟΣ I am Hermes of Kyllene), with petasos and kerukeion, Hephaistos (ΗΕΦΑΙΣΤΟς), characterised by an axe, and Dionysos (ΔΙΟΝΥΣΙΟΣ) with an ivy-wreath on his head and a drinking vessel.

The throne has rectangular legs, ending in lion's paws, and a curved back with a swan's head finial; there is a column between the legs to support the seat.

For the inscription vid. Rob. Schneider, Die Geburt der Athena, Wien 1880(?); Reinach I, 197.

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