O28.5 THE DEPARTURE OF TRIPTOLEMUS
| Museum Collection | British Museum, London |
|---|---|
| Catalogue No. | London E183 |
| Beazley Archive No. | 215772 |
| Ware | Attic Red Figure |
| Shape | Hydria |
| Painter | Attributed to the Pothos Painter |
| Date | ca 480 - 440 B.C. |
| Period | Early Classical |
DESCRIPTION
Triptolemus prepares to depart in a winged chariot to spread knowledge of agriculture. He is flanked by the goddesses Demeter and Persephone. Hecate (not shown) stands to one side. Each of the figures holds a royal, lotus-tipped sceptre. The goddesses wear crowns and the hero wears a wreath of grain(?). Demeter serves Triptolemus a beverage from a jug--presumably the sacred mint and barley drink of the Eleusinian mysteries.