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Greek Mythology >> Galleries >> Greek Vase Paintings 4 >> L3.1

L3.1 HERACLES, GERYON, CALLIRHOE & ORTHRUS

Heracles, Geryon & Orthrus | Attic red figure vase painting
DETAILS
Museum Collection Staatliche Antikensammlungen, Munich
Catalogue No. Munich 2620
Beazley Archive No. 200080
Ware Attic Red Figure
Shape Kylix, Type B
Painter Signed by Euphronios
Date ca. 510 - 500 B.C.
Period Late Archaic

DESCRIPTION

Side A: Heracles battles the three-bodied giant Geryon. The hero is dressed in a lion-skin cape and wields a club in one hand and a bow in the other. Behind him stands the goddess Athena holding a shield emblazoned with the Gorgoneion (Gorgon's head).The two-headed dog Orthrus lies dead at the feat of Geryon its breast pierced by an arrow. Geryon aims his spears at the hero. One of his three bodies is already dead, pierced through the eye by an arrow. He holds three shields, one is inscribed with the symbol of an octopus while the other depicts a winged boar--perhaps loosely representing his father, Chrysaor, twin-brother of the winged horse Pegasus. Geryon's mother, Callirhoe (see other image), stands behind him gesturing suggesting her worry and distress.

Side B: The cattle of Geryon (not shown).

IMAGE DETAIL 1

Geryon & Callirhoe | Attic red figure vase painting

Detail of Geryon and Callirhoe.

Callirhoe, the Oceanid nymph mother of Geryon, raises her hands in distress as the first of the three bodies of Geryon is felled by the arrows of Heracles.

"[Callirhoe laments :] I, unhappy woman, miserable in the child I bore, miserable in my sufferings; I beseech you, Geryon [not to fight Heracles]." - Stesichorus, Geryoneis Frag 513

IMAGE DETAIL 2

Orthrus | Attic red figure vase painting

Detail of the hound Orthrus.

Detail of the two-headed hount Orthrus lies dead on its back with an arrow protruding from its breast. It has two heads and a serpent for a tail.

"Before him [Heracles] slain lay that most murderous hound Orthrus, in furious might like Cerberus his brother-hound." - Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 6.249

IMAGE DETAIL 3

Winged Boar | Attic red figure vase painting

Detail of the winged boar.

A winged boar decorates the shield of Geryon. It may represent his father Chrysaor--literally or figuratively-- who was a son of the tusked Gorgon Medusa and twin of the winged horse Pegasus.

ARTICLES

Geryon, Orthrus, Callirhoe, Chrysaor, Athena