Terracotta neck-amphora (jar) with double handles

Attributed to the Diosphos Painter
ca. 500 BCE
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 171
Obverse, Herakles and Kerberos at the house of Hades; meaningless inscriptions
Reverse, Hermes and Athena; meaningless inscriptions

Kerberos, the mythical guard dog of Hades, is depicted with two heads. One head bites the loop of the leash; with the other, Kerberos catches the tail of Herakles' lion's skin in his jaws.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Terracotta neck-amphora (jar) with double handles
  • Artist: Attributed to the Diosphos Painter
  • Period: Archaic
  • Date: ca. 500 BCE
  • Culture: Greek, Attic
  • Medium: Terracotta; black-figure
  • Dimensions: H. 6 7/8 in. (17.5 cm.)
    Diameter 3 15/16 in. (10 cm.)
  • Classification: Vases
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1941
  • Object Number: 41.162.178
  • Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

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