Terracotta neck-amphora (jar)

ca. 525–500 BCE
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 171
Obverse, Athena, Herakles leading Kerberos, and Hermes
Reverse, Battle of gods and giants

According to myth, Kerberos, the guard dog of Hades, may have had as many as one-hundred heads, or fifty heads, or as few as one. In Archaic Attic vase painting, Kerberos, as seen on this vase, is often depicted with two heads.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Terracotta neck-amphora (jar)
  • Period: Archaic
  • Date: ca. 525–500 BCE
  • Culture: Greek, Attic
  • Medium: Terracotta; black-figure
  • Dimensions: H. 9 1/4 in. (23.5cm.)
    Diameter 15.3 cm.
  • Classification: Vases
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1906
  • Object Number: 06.1021.78
  • Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

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