Vase Catalog Number: London E 163

Decoration:

Medea stands, named, on the left facing center. Her right arm is raised as she sprinkles magical herbs from a small hemispherical bowl which she holds in her left hand. Her hair is gathered into a sort of chignon and restrained by a broad fillet. She wears earrings, a long, sleeved chiton and mantle. At the center of the composition is a large lebes (basin) on a tripod which stands over a blazing fire with flames indicated in added red. Out from the lebes arises a ram which springs towards Medea as if in response to her magical herbs. On the right is Jason, named and facing Medea. He is shown as an aged man with white hair and a stippled, stubbly beard, leaning on his staff with his left arm. He extends his right toward Medea as if imploring her to act. He wears a long, sleeved chiton and mantle. It has been suggested that the inscription is erroneous and that Aeson, Jason's father, was intended to be shown.

The design occurs on the body only, without borders, except for a frieze of three meanders alternating with cross squares which provides a ground line for the figures. Around the neck there is a tongue pattern. Below the back-handle there are two palmettes, placed base to base.

Graffiti:

Underneath the foot are incised characters LÊKGDRI and a monogram.

Inscriptions:

The two figures are named MEDEIA (retr.), Medea, and IASON, Jason

Collection History:

Canino Collection, no. 1693

Shape Description:

black figure shape, same as two hydriae: ARV2, 209, 166 (Vatican) and Para, 81 bis (Frankfort)

Sources Used:

Smith 1896, 148-149,; CVA, 5, 10-11, pl. 70, 4; Boardman 1975, fig. 200

Other Bibliography:

Archaeologia 23, 242; Gerhard Auserlene Vasenbilder iii, 28

(Susan H. Allen)