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Greek Mythology >> Galleries >> Greek Vase Paintings 6 >> P21.3

P21.3 ACHILLES & THE BODY OF HECTOR

Achilles & Body of Hector | Attic black figure vase painting
DETAILS
Museum Collection Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Catalogue No. Boston 63.473
Beazley Archive No. -
Ware Attic Black Figure
Shape Hydria
Painter Attributed to the Antiope Group
Date ca. 520 - 510 B.C.
Period Archaic

DESCRIPTION

Side: Iris, the winged messsenger of the gods, commands Achilles ransom the body of Hector. The hero rides a chariot, dragging the corpse around the tomb of Patroclus. Flitting above the tomb, the ghost of Patroclus is depicted as a tiny winged man, armoured and holding a shield. Priam and his wife Hecabe stand at the gates of the city. The striding warrior before them is probably Hermes disguised as a Myrmidon warrior, preparing to lead the king to the Greek camp. The entire scene is drawn from books 22 and 23 of Homer's Iliad.
Shoulder: Heracles battles Cycnus (not shown).

ARTICLES

Iris, Hermes