8/12/2019 Kroisos Amphora

1/1

Kroisos amphora (1: 39): how does this representation fit in with Herodotuss Kroisos?

Who are the other characters depicted, and why?

Kroisos on pyre

Theseus, Antiope, Peirithous

1.86-88

n the Lydian account, Lydian king Croesus tied up and 14 Lydian boys was placed upon a greatpyre by

Cyrus' orders for Cyrus wanted to see if any of the heavenly powers would appear to save him or as a

victory offering or in fulfilment of a vow. The pile was set ablaze, and asCyrus the Great watched he saw

Croesus call out "Solon"three times. He asked the interpreters to find out why. The interpreters asked

Croesus said Solon had warned Croesus of the fickleness of good fortune. This touched Cyrus, who

realized that he and Croesus were similar, and he bade the servants to quench the blazing fire as quickly

as they could. They tried, but the flames were out of control. Croesus called out toApollo and prayed to

him. Soon dark clouds gathered and a storm with rain of such violence that the flames were speedily

extinguished. Cyrus, convinced by this that Croesus was a good man, made Croesus an advisor who

served Cyrus 'well'

Size: 58.5cm. amphora

Technique: red-figure

Subject/s:Croesus,king ofLydia (c. 560-540), sits,garlanded with laurel, Apollo is represented wearing

a laurel wreath on his head, piety, holding his sceptre, kingship, and making a libation, piety, from

aphiale form was that of a wide round shallowbowl without handles or a foot- on a high pyre stoked by his

servant named Euthymos.

The mythological eastern, Croesus on the pyre is an historical event that happened some decades before

he vase was painted. Both scenes involve the east and they were painted while Athens was threatened by

nvasions from Persians. 500-480, louvreCroesus aroused Greek sympathies as a victim of Persian aggression

dynamically composed,

hree figures running

he abduction of the Amazon Antiope by Theseus in the presence of his friend Pirithous.

Theseus has his arms around the Amazon Antiope, who is wearing an embroidered Scythian costume and

a Phrygian bonnet. With her quiver in a baldric and her ax in hand, she is trying to get away from Theseus.

The bearded Pirithous, like Theseus wearing a hoplite garment, is protecting his companion as he flees by

brandishing a sumptuous shield decorated with an episemon representing a bull. a characteristic symbol

displayed on a shield, similar to a coat of arms. Girdle of Hippolyta

Theseus is mythical founder of AthensAthenian victory over amazons equates to Athenian victory over

Persians

Myson is known by his signature as a painter and potter, which is inscribed on a small krater in Athens. He

rained with the Attic red-figure Pioneers, and during the early fifth century BC was particularly influenced

by his master Phintias who, like him, was developing a special interest in the decoration of large vases and

sober, elegant compositions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrus_the_Greathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollohttp://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/dictionary/Dict/ASP/dictionarybody.asp?name=Croesus.htmlhttp://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/dictionary/Dict/ASP/dictionarybody.asp?name=Lydia.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollohttp://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/tools/pottery/shapes/phiale.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowl_(vessel)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowl_(vessel)http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/tools/pottery/shapes/phiale.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollohttp://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/dictionary/Dict/ASP/dictionarybody.asp?name=Lydia.htmlhttp://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/dictionary/Dict/ASP/dictionarybody.asp?name=Croesus.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrus_the_Greathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyre