A: AJAX AND ACHILLES PLAYING, SEATED ON BLOCKS, (BOTH NAMED), BOEOTIAN SHIELDS, HELMET, DEVICES, HEAD OF SATYR IN RELIEF BETWEEN SNAKE AND LEOPARD, GORGONEION BETWEEN SNAKES | B: POLYDEUKES AND KASTOR, LEADING HORSE, DEPARTING OR RETURNING, LEDA WITH SPRIGS, TYNDAREUS, YOUTH (NAMED) WITH STOOL AND ALABASTRON
Inscription
EXEKIAS | Kalos/Kale: ONETORIDES | Named: ACHILEOS, AIANTOS | Named: KASTOR, POLYDEUKES, LEDA, KYLAROS, TYNDAREOS | ONETORIDES | Signature: ECHSEKIASEPOIESEN [ECHSE]KIASE | Signature: GRAPHSEKAPOIESEME | Speech: TESARA, TRIA
Provenance
3 recorded events
Excavation
c. 1830s
Vulci, Etruria, Italy
Excavated at the Etruscan necropolis of Vulci under licensed excavation. Vulci was the single richest source of Attic black-figure pottery.
Purchase
c. 1835
Papal Government
Rome, Italy
Acquired by the Papal government under antiquities regulations requiring a share of finds from licensed excavations in the Papal States.
Purchase
1837
Museo Gregoriano Etrusco, Vatican
Vatican City
Placed in the Museo Gregoriano Etrusco, founded by Pope Gregory XVI in 1837. One of the masterpieces of Attic black-figure painting — Exekias depicts Ajax carrying the body of Achilles from the battlefield.
Beazley, ABV, 145.13; Vatican Museums records
Images courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (CC0)