Greece, Athens, ca. 480 BCE. A striking oinochoe featuring a bust of the legendary hero Herakles (Roman Hercules) as the body, with a trefoil spout, and a high arched handle joining rim to shoulder. Herakles is known for his immense physical strength and courage. His adventures in the Greco-Roman world were narrated in the canonical Twelve Labors, the first occurring when King Eurystheus asked Herakles to bring him the skin of a fierce lion that terrorized the hillside around Nemea - a seemingly impossible task. Despite the fact that initially Herakles' arrows were utterly useless against this threatening beast, our hero ultimately succeeded, clutching the lion in his muscular arms all the while strategically avoiding its claws, finally choking it to death. This special example is perfect for the hero in your life. Size: 5.875" H (14.9 cm)
The list of Herakles' labors also includes slaying the nine-headed Lernaean Hydra; capturing the Golden Hind of Artemis; capturing the Erymanthian Boar; cleaning the Augean stables in one day; slaying the Stymphalian Birds; capturing the Cretan Bull; stealing the Mares of Diomedes; acquiring the girdle of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons; acquiring the cattle of the monster Geryon; stealing the apples of the Hesperides; and finally, capturing Cerberus.
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Artemis Gallery; ex-private Manhattan, New York collection; ex-N. Koutoulakis, Geneva, Switzerland; acquired by the current owner from the above, 1987
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#149766
Condition
Chips to base. Surface wear with pigment loss as shown. Old inventory labels on bottom.