Attic Black-Figure Hydria
On the shoulder: Herakles and the Nemean Lion. Herakles' face is largely hidden as he wrestles the lion to the ground. Behind Herakles, Athena with shield and spear, and Iolaos with bow and club. To the right of the lion, Hermes. Suspended above Herakles and the lion are Herakles' sword (in its scabbard), quiver and drapery.
On the body: Herakles and Apollo struggling for the tripod. Herakles (in chiton and lionskin) walks to the right, looking back at Apollo (nude with quiver and bow; tattoo on inner right thigh) who pursues him, with one hand on a tripod leg, the other upwards in exclamation.
Behind Apollo, Artemis (polos, bow, quiver, gesturing with left hand). At far right, Athena, with spear, and gesturing with her right hand.The names of the figures are inscribed in the genitive case.
Ornament: above the shoulder frieze, tongues; on the shoulder, battlement meander; either side of the main panel, ivy leaves; below, predella of upright lotus buds; rays below.
White ground survives on edge of torus lip and foot. Three red circles at upper attachment of vertical handle (within the mouth) in imitation of rivets.
On the body: Herakles and Apollo struggling for the tripod. Herakles (in chiton and lionskin) walks to the right, looking back at Apollo (nude with quiver and bow; tattoo on inner right thigh) who pursues him, with one hand on a tripod leg, the other upwards in exclamation.
Behind Apollo, Artemis (polos, bow, quiver, gesturing with left hand). At far right, Athena, with spear, and gesturing with her right hand.The names of the figures are inscribed in the genitive case.
Ornament: above the shoulder frieze, tongues; on the shoulder, battlement meander; either side of the main panel, ivy leaves; below, predella of upright lotus buds; rays below.
White ground survives on edge of torus lip and foot. Three red circles at upper attachment of vertical handle (within the mouth) in imitation of rivets.
Images courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (CC0)