Vase Catalog Number: Mississippi 1977.3.115

Decoration:

The panels are framed above by a tongue pattern, and below by a lotus bud chain. The lateral borders are double rows of checks. On the neck is a chain palmettes design, and above the foot are rays. Two narrow purple lines encircle the vase below the lotus buds; they also occur around the top and bottom of the vase. On the bottom of the foot is the graffito K.

Side A: Athena is shown holding her shield in her left hand and her spear upright in her right. Her body is in profile to the right, with her shoulders in front view and her head in profile to the left. She wears a chiton, himation, sandals, and crested helmet. On either side of her are columns with Ionic capitals and cocks standing on them. Their combs and wattles are painted red. At the right of the goddess is an altar, with Ionic volutes, and ornamented with an egg pattern. Red drips indicate blood from the sacrifices. The crowning molding ends in volutes at the sides. Athena's shield is of the round type, decorated near the edge with two concentric circles, and with the device of a dog. Around the shield is the inscription NIKOCHSENIOS ("Nikoxenos"). In the field to the left of Athena is the inscription IIALOII (perhaps misspelled KALOS, "beautiful"). To the right of Athena ATHENAIA ("Athena"). A dog is a rather unusual shield device for Athena, but it might allude to the animal sacrifice at the altar, which would attract scavenging dogs (Neils 1992, 152). Another example of the dog as Athena's shield device is London B 140, a pseudo-Panathenaic amphora.

Side B: This is similar to Side A, except that Athena stands in profile to the right, over the blood-stained altar which now has a fire in it. She wears an Ionic chiton, and a red wreath in her hair. Her spear rests against her left shoulder, and in her extended right hand she holds her helmet over the altar. To her left is the inscription KALOII (misspelled kalos "beautiful").

Graffiti:

Graffito on bottom of vase K.

Inscriptions:

Side A, around the shield: NIKOCHSENIOS ("Nikoxenos"). In the field to the left of Athena is the inscription IIALOII (misspelled kalos "beautiful"). To the right of Athena ATHENAIA ("Athena"). Side B: To Athena's left is the inscription KALOII (misspelled kalos "beautiful").

Parallels:

Another example of the dog as Athena's shield device is London B 140, a pseudo-Panathenaic amphora.

Collection History:

Ex-coll. Count Stroganoff, St. Petersburg and Rome; David M. Robinson collection. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Frank S. Peddle, Jr., 1961.

Condition:

Broken and mended; surface pitted.

Shape Description:

Amphora of Panathenaic shape.

Sources Used:

CVA, Robinson Collection 2, USA 6, 22-23, pl. 24, 1a-b, 25; Neils 1992, 47, 152, no. 13

Other Bibliography:

J.D. Beazley "The Master of the Stroganoff Nikoxenos Vase" BSA 19 (1912-1913) 229-47, figs. 3-4; LIMC, II, 1010-11, Athena 582

(AL)