Fragmentary Attic Black-Figure Band Cup

An Amazonomachy, including Herakles, decorates the exterior of this cup, which is missing its foot, a handle and much of one side.

On side A (more fully preserved), two Greeks battle an attacking Amazon. The leftmost Greek (added white for his cuirass) has a shield with a projecting lion head and attacks to the right. His comrade wears an animal skin over his tunic, and is in flight, looking back. The Amazon attacks to the left, with a shield with a projecting snake. At the centre of the scene, Herakles (wearing a lionskin and with a quiver) attacks to right, brandishing a sword, and holding the scabbard in his outstretched left arm. His opponent (protruding lion head blazon on shield) flees. At right, a Greek (protruding snake head blazon on shield) runs to the left, looking back and brandishing his spear against the Amazon (frontal lion's head blazon on shield) who chases him. A draped youth with a spear watches the scene at far right. Preserved under the handle is the signature of Amasis.

The other side of the cup is only partially preserved. At far left, a youth with a spear watches the battle. A Greek archer (wearing a pilos) holding a bow in his left hand and an arrow in his right follows a Greek hoplite (animal skin over tunic, protruding snake blazon on shield), who faces an Amazon (profile lion head blazon on frontal shield).

The interior of the cup is black with a reserved circle at the centre, in which is a black ring.