T40.7 ORESTES AT DELPHOI
Museum Collection: British Museum, London, United Kingdom
Catalogue No.: London 1917.12-10.1
Beazley Archive No.: N/A
Ware: Paestan Red Figure
Shape: Krater, bell
Painter: Attributed to Python
Date: ca 350 - 340 BC
Period: Late Classical
SUMMARY
Orestes seeks refuge from the avenging Furies (Erinyes) of his mother Klytaimnestra at the shrine of Delphoi. He grasps hold of the omphalos stone beneath the sacred tripod as a suppliant of the god. Apollon receives him, and turns to face one of the pursuing Erinyes. He is wreathed in laurel, and holds a laurel branch staff. On the other side stands Athene, Orestes' patron-goddess, who has guided him to the altar. She wears a helm and her gorgon-headed aigis cloak. Above her is the ghost of Klytaimnestra, who drives the Erinyes against her son to avenge the crime of matricide. The two Erinyes are depicted as huntresses, wearing short-skirts and hunting boots. Their arms and hair are wreathed with poisonous serpents. One of the pair is winged.
ARTICLES Erinyes, Athena, Apollon
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