Classics 284 Second Midterm: Art Identification Slides

Vocabulary practice flashcards for ancient Greek vase paintings, mythological scenes, and Egyptian art identification covered in Classics 284 for the second midterm.

Herakles & Nemean Lion

Visual depiction of Herakles wrestling the Nemean Lion representing Labor #1 (fig. 149).

Herakles & the Hydra

Ancient Greek vase painting depicting Herakles fighting the multi-headed Hydra alongside an assistant for Labor #2 (fig. 152).

Heracles and Nessus

Vase painting showing Heracles slaying the centaur Nessus with a sword (fig. 188).

Herakles' Apotheosis

Art depiction showing the apotheosis of Herakles, featuring the hero in a chariot driven by Athena ascending toward Olympus (fig. 192).

The Judgement of Paris

Black-figure vase painting located at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) illustrating Hermes leading the three goddesses to Paris for his judgement.

Paris Leads Helen (Color, MFA)

Red-figure vase painting housed at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) showing Paris leading Helen away, escorted by Eros and other figures (fig. 242).

Paris Leads Helen (Black & White Drawing)

Black and white rollout illustration of the red-figure vase at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) depicting Paris leading Helen (fig. 242).

Leda's Egg

Red-figure vase painting at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), dated to ca. 430-420 BC, depicting the egg of Leda resting upon an altar beside a bird and figures.

Achilles & Ajax at Play

Black-figure amphora scene showing Achilles and Ajax seated opposite each other playing a board game while holding spears during a lull in the Trojan War (fig. 248).

The "Euphronios Krater" (Death of Sarpedon)

Famous red-figure calyx-krater painted by Euphronios depicting the dead body of Sarpedon being carried off the battlefield by Hypnos (Sleep) and Thanatos (Death) under the guidance of Hermes (fig. 257).

Achilles Drags Hector

Black-figure vase painting at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) depicting Achilles dragging the corpse of Hector behind his chariot past the tomb of Patroclus (fig. 262).

Achilles and Penthesilea

Black-figure amphora painting showing the Greek hero Achilles fatally driving his spear into the Amazon queen Penthesilea (fig. 266).

Fight for Achilles' Body

Black-figure vase painting illustrating the fierce combat between Greek and Trojan warriors over the slain body of Achilles lying on the ground (fig. 272).

The Suicide of Ajax

Black-figure amphora composition depicting Ajax bending over to fix his sword into the ground beside a palm tree in preparation for his suicide (fig. 275).

Trojan Horse

Relief depiction on a ceramic pithos showing the wheeled wooden Trojan Horse with warriors visible inside windows and emerging onto the ground (fig. 277).

The Fall of Troy (Altamura Painter)

Red-figure vase painting attributed to the Altamura Painter, dated to 470-460 BC and located at the Boston MFA, illustrating the sack of Troy.

Sacrifice of Polyxena

Black-figure Tyrrhenian amphora scene dated to ca. 560 BC showing Neoptolemos cutting the throat of Polyxena over the burial mound of Achilles surrounded by Greek warriors (fig. 23).

Helen and Menelaus

Red-figure vase scene depicting Menelaus pursuing Helen with a drawn sword, dropping his weapon upon seeing her beauty (fig. 280).

Odysseus & Polyphemus

Red-figure vase painting showing Odysseus and his comrades thrusting a sharpened wooden pole into the eye of the reclining, drunken Cyclops Polyphemus (fig. 283).

Odysseus and Circe

Black-figure kylix scene at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) showing the sorceress Circe handing a magical potion to Odysseus' companions who are transforming into animals (fig. 285).

Odysseus and Sirens

Red-figure stamnos depicting Odysseus bound to the mast of his ship while his crew row past three bird-bodied Sirens (fig. 287).

Penelope & Telemachus

Red-figure skyphos depicting Penelope seated in sorrow before her loom with her standing son Telemachus holding spears (fig. 289).

Aegisthus & Agamemnon

Red-figure vase painting illustrating the murder of King Agamemnon, who is ensnared in an inescapable robe, by Aegisthus and Clytemnestra (fig. 292).

Heart Weighed Against Feather of Maat

Egyptian papyrus scroll from the British Museum dated 1200-1080 BC, depicting the deceased's heart weighed against the Feather of Maat (right) by jackal-headed Anubis, with Thoth recording the outcome (left), the "Devouress" waiting, and falcon-headed Horus/Ra.