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Greek Mythology >> Galleries >> Greek Vase Paintings 7 >> T17.3

T17.3 HELIUS, NYX & EOS

Helius, Nyx & Eos | Attic black figure vase painting
DETAILS
Museum Collection Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Catalogue No. New York 41.162.29
Beazley Archive No. 305499
Ware Attic Black Figure (White Ground)
Shape Lekythos
Painter Attributed to the Sappho Painter
Date ca 500 - 475 B.C.
Period Archaic

DESCRIPTION

The sun-god Helius rises from the river Oceanus at dawn . He is crowned with the shining aureole of the sun and drives a four-horse (quadriga) chariot. Above him, on the left, is Nyx (labelled Nyks), goddess of the night, crowned with dark mists and driving a four-horse chariot. Facing her is the nearly identical figure of Eos (labelled Heos), goddess of the day, crowned with a swirl representing light and driving a four-horse chariot. Heracles (not shown) sits on a hill to the right roasting meat on spits over a fire. The painting perhaps illustrates the tale of the hero's ambush of the sun-god.

ARTICLES

Helius, Nyx, Eos, Hemera

OTHER IMAGES

Thumbnail Nyx

N1.3 Nyx

Thumbnail Eos-Hemera

N3.1 Eos-Hemera