This vase shows a representation of an adventure in the life of Pelops, after whom the southern part of Greece, the Peloponnese was named. While the identity of each person has not been completely agreed upon, it is widely thought to show Poseidon, either Hippodamia or the goddess Demeter, Pelops and King Oenimaus (Ene-maas) of the Kingdom of Elis in Greece.

As a young man, Pelops’ father, Tantalus dismembered and cooked his own son for a banquet with the gods. The gods, abhorring human sacrifice, were able to bring Pelops to life again, with the exception of his shoulder which was eaten by goddess Demeter. The goddess replaced it with a shoulder of ivory, and pledged to look out for Pelops well-being throughout his life. A further gift, swift winged horses, were given him by Poseidon.

Pelops left his homeland and wandered to the Kingdom of Elis, where he had heard of the beautiful Princess Hippodamia, daughter of cruel King Oenimaus. The King had decreed that whomever would wed his daughter would first beat him in a chariot race; his chariot was from the war-god, Ares. The walls of his castle were strung with the heads of suitors who had lost previous races.

Either Pelops or Hippodamia bribed the king’s stable boy to sabotage the King’s chariot. He pulled out the pins on the wheels, and the King was eventually killed in the race. Pelops got the girl and the kingdom.

As a funerary tribute to the deceased king, Pelops staged magnificent games to which athletes game from all over Greece. Held on the plain of Olympia in Elis, they came to be known as the Olympian Games.

Examining the figures on the vase, we see the man holding the reins is also holding a trident, symbol of Poseidon. Next to him a woman holds sheaves of wheat, which were used to make wreaths for tribute and sacrifice, and are also the symbol for Demeter. These two characters could then be the two protecting gods of Pelops. On the other hand, the woman could be Hippodamia, preparing to wave Pelops on to victory with her wheat sheaves. Peering slyly from behind the horses and wearing a wreath is possibly King Oenimaus; and dressed in traveler’s garb, newly arrived to the kingdom is Pelops, hand out to take the bridle of the horses.