.
Greek Mythology >> Galleries >> Greek Vase Paintings 1 >> K7.7

K7.7 THE BIRTH OF ATHENA

Birth of Athena | Attic black figure vase painting
DETAILS
Museum Collection Musée du Louvre, Paris
Catalogue No. Louvre CA616
Beazley Archive No. 300499
Ware Attic Black Figure
Shape Tripod Kothon
Painter Attributed to the C Painter
Date ca 570 - 565 B.C.
Period High Archaic

DESCRIPTION

Side A: The goddess Athena is birthed from the head of Zeus. She is depicted as a miniature figure rising from the head of the god, equipped with a spear, shield and helm. The king of the gods is seated on a throne with a lightning bolt in his hand. Flanking him a pair of Eileithyiae raise their arms as midwives of the birth. Hephaestus (or perhaps Prometheus) stands to the right bearing the double-headed mallet or axe used to split open the skull of Zeus. Poseidon stands on the opposite side holding a trident. Other gods witness the birth.
Side B: The judgement of Paris (not shown).
Side C: The wedding of Zeus and Hera (not shown).

ARTICLES

Zeus, Athena, Hephaestus, Eileithyia, Poseidon