Vase Catalog Number: Munich 2423 (inv. no. Munich J 4)

Decoration:

Panel: Three Amazons prepare for battle. The central Amazon is testing a salpinx. She is wearing a short, belted chiton and helmet, and is equipped with greaves, sword, and a spear. The Amazon to her right turns back to her at the sound of the instrument, while lifting her shield. Her spear is leaning behind her. A third Amazon is looking on from the left holding her helmet and spear, her shield leaning against her left thigh. In the field behind her is the inscription painted in dark red ANDROMACHE ("Andromache"), the central Amazon is marked ANTIOPEA ("Antiopea"), and the one on the right hUPOPULE ("Hypopyle"). Above the central Amazon is the additional inscription CHEUCHE ("Cheuche"), and along the right border hUPHSIS EGRAPSEN ("Hyphsis painted it"). The scene is framed around the bottom and side borders by a frieze of encircled red palmettes, on the top by a band of meanders.

Shoulder: The image on the shoulders extends the size of the panel. It shows on the right a quadriga preparing for departure: the bearded driver is mounting the chariot, holding the reigns of the horses and a kentron in his hands. To the left are two naked youths on horseback, each carrying a short whip. Several red inscriptions mark the field around the group: in front of the horses is written KAIRE, in front of the charioteer KALOS ("[he is] beautiful"), in front of the first horseman NEDIOS or hERIAS?, below the tail of the horse SIMOS or SIMON ("Simos" or "Simon").

Inscriptions:

ANDROMACHE; ANTIOPEA; hUPOPULE; CHEUCHE; hUPHSIS EGRAPSEN; KAIRE; KALOS; NEDIOS or ÊERIAS?; SIMOS or SIMON.

Parallels:

Hydria in Rome, Collection Torlonia; ARV2, 30, 2. A modern copy of the hydria, now in the Musée Revillod in Geneva, was presented as a gift in 1847 by the Bavarian king Ludwig I to the dancer Lola Montez.

Collection History:

Collection Candelori.

Sources Used:

CVA, Munich 5, pl. 224,1- 2, pl. 225, 3, pl. 226, 6.

Other Bibliography:

Klein, Die griechischen Vasen mit Meistersignaturen 198 (Hypsis); Robinson and Fluck, A study of the Greek love-names 170.

(Jutta Bruhn)