Attic Black-Figure Panel-Amphora Type B

A centaur turns around to face the hero Herakles, who attacks him from behind with a club. From either side a woman and an old man watch the conflict. The scene shown probably comes from the story of the rape of Deianeira. Pretending to aid the couple on a journey, the centaur Nessos attempted to carry off Herakles' wife Deianeira. The woman and old man are probably Deianeira and her father Oineus.

The back of the vase depicts a scene from daily life. Four nude athletes train at several sports: three youths throw the javelin and the discus, and the youth at the right holds jumping weights. Athletic training was an essential part of a youth's education in ancient Greece.