No C 23
London, British Museum B 218
Black-figure amphora from Vulci
Manner of the Antimenes Painter

Zeus is seated on a throne. 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, with clenched hand. The left forearm is extended obliquely upward, the hand holding a staff. The god has a luxuriant pointed beard and wears his long hair loose. His dress consists of a chiton and a himation, which covers 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 and an epiblematon. She wears a helmet, carries a shield on the left arm and holds an enormous spear in the right hand.

There are three other deities in the picture. On the right stand a goddess, the right arm raised, with palm turned outward and extended fingers, the left arm extended obliquely downward, with palm turned downward and extended fingers, and Hephaistos, identified by the axe. On the left side stands a goddess, the left arm raised, with palm turned outward and extended fingers, the right arm extended obliquely downward, with palm turned downward and extended fingers.

The throne has rectangular legs, connected by stretchers crossing each other, and ending in lion's paws. It has a curved back with a swan's head finial.

Between the legs a winged goddess with endromides is seen, probably Iris. She is represented in a sprinting position, with head in profile to the left, the body facing and the legs in profile to the right.

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