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Achilles Hydria
5th century bc, 11.5" Tall - Item #V28 |
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| This 5th Century red-figure hydria features the battle between Achilles and Hector in the Trojan War. Hector, the son of King Priam of Troy, brother of Paris, and leader of the Trojan army was very noble, brave and honest. Achilles, the King of Thessaly and bravest of the Greek kings, was the favorite of the goddess Athena, and wore magical armor that was impenetrable. Hector (Ektoras, in Greek), on the right, is already fatally wounded and falling backward, away from Achilles (Axilleas, in Greek), who appears to have just withdrawn his spear. Later on in the course of the war, Achilles himself was killed by Paris. Apollo, the protecting god of the Trojans, told Paris that Achilles' heel was the only unprotected part of Achilles body. Not only did the armor not cover it, but as an infant when AchillesÕ mother dunked in him sacred, magical waters, she held him by the heel, thus keeping that area dry, and unprotected. The reverse side of the vase show the grisly fate of Pentheus, King of Thebes. When the cult of Dionysos (Bacchus) began in Greece, Pentheus refused to allow worship of the god. He threw followers in jail, and angered the god. One night he heard revelers (Bacchanals) on a mountain, and burst upon them to end the celebration. Dionysos was so angered that he caused the women celebrants to hallucinate the Pentheus was a ferocious boar. The set upon him and tore him to pieces. | |