Volute Crater Original front side
This scene shows the Nereide (marine nymph) Thetis fighting Peleus.
Every groomsman had to compete with Thetis in the wrestling match. She never lost. But Peleus, the king of Phthyia in Thessaly, conquered them and with her fathered the invulnerable Heros Achilleus, also known as the Pelide.
To the left and right of the wrestlers are Nereids, one holding a box in her hand, the other holding a mirror.
Below the ornamental bands two pigeons fly, flying above the main actors Fliegende carries an ivy wreath in her beak.
At the neck of the volute crater two grabs tear a deer.
Volute crater original back side
Kephalos' abduction by the goddess of dawn, Eos,
reproduces this vase motif. Known by Homer as the "rose-fingered one", Eos had a love affair with the god of war Ares, the wife of the love goddess Aphrodite. The goddess, indignantly angered by this iniquity, beats Eos with an insatiable desire for beautiful young men and boys.
From now on, Eos has to look out for suitable victims on her morning drive with her four-carriage over the horizon.
To the carriage with Eos and Kephalos, symbolically "the one with the beautiful head", the morning star Phosphoros flies ahead in the allegory of a naked winged youth.
Below the quadriga, two sea monsters are depicted as symbols of the sea, with a dolphin in between.
At the neck of the vase two griffins are visible, which attack a bull.
Below the uppermost ornamental ribbon, two ducks fly in the direction of travel of the sky car, the lower part is completed by a meandering band.
At the upper, tapering part of the vase body there are symmetrically four sculpted gazelle heads attached.
The two curls at the ends of the handles, called volutes, give this volute crater its name. Craters were generally used to mix wine. This masterpiece was painted in the red figure type.
This magnificent vase is exhibited in Rome at the Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Villa Giulia under the number 2491, and because it was found in the Etruscan town of Falerii, it is also known as the Faliscan volute crater. It is obviously, however, a Greek work. Date of origin approx. 340 BC
This precise imitation is an excellent work of a studio in Athens. The replica is made especially for you, hand-painted and handmade. Please have understanding for a delivery time of 2 months. Gladly you receive further meaningful photographs from different perspectives.