Ancient Greek Art: Birth of Dionysus

The birth of Dionysus from the thigh of Zeus | Greek vase, Athenian red figure volute krater

K12.27 THE BIRTH OF DIONYSOS

Museum Collection: Museo Nazionale di Spina, Ferrara, Italy
Catalogue No.: Ferrara 2737 or T381
Beazley Archive No.: 207139
Ware: Attic Red Figure
Shape: Volute Krater
Painter: The Altamura Painter
Date: ca 460 BC
Period: Classical

ARTICLES

Dionysos, Zeus, Aphrodite, Eileithyia

SUMMARY

Dionysos is depicted in this painting newly born from the thigh of Zeus. The king of the gods holds a thyrsos (a pine-cone tipped staff), one of the usual attributes of Dionysos, and sits on a stool spread with a deer skin. His infant son holds a vine-branch in one hand and a wine cup in the other, indicating his destined role as the god of wine. The goddesses Aphrodite and Eileithyia stand on either side, Aphrodite holding a pair of flower blooms, and Eileithyia, the goddess of childbirth, raising her hand to release the child.