No C 38
Rome, Museo Vaticano 353
Black-figure amphora from Cerveteri
Group E

A god, presumably Zeus, is seated on an easy chair (?). 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 almost horizontally forward, with clenched hand. The left forearm is extended obliquely upward, the hand holding a staff. The god has a pointed beard and close-cropped hair. His dress consists of a chiton and a himation, which covers the arms.

There are two figures at each side of the picture. At the right stand a goddess, the right arm raised with palm turned outward and extended fingers, the left arm hanging down, with clenched fist, and Ares, characterised as such by helmet, shield and greaves. At the left side the two gods are identified as Poseidon, by the trident, and Hermes, by the petasos.

The chair has thin curved legs and a back ending in a swan's head.

A small figure of a bearded man is seen between the legs of the chair. He is dressed in a chiton and a himation, which covers his arms completely. An owl perches on the staff of the seated god.

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