Although there are two different schools of thought on the scene depicted on this kylix, the prevailing theory is that it depicts Zeus and an eagle. This kylix, a shallow drinking cup on a small pedestal, was painted by Naukratis, and dates from between 510-580 b.c. from the area of Laconia, a region ruled by Sparta. One of Zeus’ attributes was the eagle. One legend says that Zeus sent an eagle to kidnap handsome Ganymedes and bring him to Mt. Olympus to become Zeus’ personal cup bearer and lover. In some versions of the story, Zeus himself changes into an eagle.

On the one hand, we can say the man in the picture is clearly Zeus because of his noble beard and hair. On the other hand, there is some credence to the school that believes this kylix depicts Prometheus, as the man’s arms appear immobilized, just as Prometheus was bound to the side of the mountain where the eagle would tear at him day after day. However, it is a characteristic of black figure painting that three dimensional details were very difficult to portray and often left out- as would be the case if the artist decided to leave out the third dimension of the arm resting against the man’s side- in which case these are not bound arms, but just lack of representation of separate arms, leading us back the scene being a depiction of Zeus. You decide! .