Terracotta oinochoe (jug)
Herakles and Pholos
While Herakles was performing his labor to capture the Erymanthean Boar, the centaur Pholos received him. Pholos provided food but hesitated to offer wine, as it belonged to all the centaurs. Herakles insisted, however, and this representation shows him removing a large flat stone from the mouth of a storage jar. The body of the jar was buried in the ground. The fragrance of the wine attracted the other centaurs, and a melee ensued.
While Herakles was performing his labor to capture the Erymanthean Boar, the centaur Pholos received him. Pholos provided food but hesitated to offer wine, as it belonged to all the centaurs. Herakles insisted, however, and this representation shows him removing a large flat stone from the mouth of a storage jar. The body of the jar was buried in the ground. The fragrance of the wine attracted the other centaurs, and a melee ensued.
Artwork Details
- Title: Terracotta oinochoe (jug)
- Artist: Attributed near the Altenburg Class
- Period: Archaic
- Date: ca. 515 BCE
- Culture: Greek, Attic
- Medium: Terracotta; black-figure
- Dimensions: H. 10 15/16 in. (27.8 cm); diameter of foot 3 1/16 in. (7.7 cm)
- Classification: Vases
- Credit Line: Fletcher Fund, 1956
- Object Number: 56.171.32
- Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art
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