Red-Figure Hydria (Water Jug) (Primary Title)

attributed to, Nausikaa Painter (Artist)

450 BC
Greek (Attic)
Ceramics
Containers-Vessels
terracotta
Overall: 17 1/2 × 13 in. (44.45 × 33.02 cm)
62.1.1

“Now Medusa alone was mortal; for that reason Perseus was sent to fetch her head.” – Apollodorus, Library, 2.4.2

Medusa was one of three Gorgons, snake-haired monsters who turned all who gazed upon them into stone. The hero Perseus chopped off Medusa’s head with the help of the divinities Athena (shown here with her helmet and shield) and Hermes (holding his caduceus). Perseus kept the head in a magic pouch (held in his left hand) until he gave it to the Athena, who placed it on her aegis (a magically protective garment).

Arthur and Margaret Glasgow Fund
“The Greek Line,” Virgnia Museum of Fine Arts, 27 April- 10 June 1962; Norfolk Museum of Arts and Sciences, 1-29 October 1962.

“The Williams Collection,” Artmobile Exhibition, September 1965- January 1966.

“Classical Myth in Western Art: Ancient Through Modern,” Meadows Museum and Gallery Southern Methodist Univ., 11/1/85-12/22/85; Amarillo Art Center, Amarillo, Texas, 1/12/86-3/2/86.

“Pandora’s Box: Women in Classical Greece,” Walters Art Gallery, 5 Nov ’95- 7 Jan ‘96; Dallas Museum of Art, 4 Feb- 31 March 1996; Antikenmuseum Basel und Sammlung Ludwig, Basel 28 April- 23 June 1996.

“Athenian Potters and Painters: Greek Vases in Virginia Collections” Muscarelle Museum of Art at the College of William and Mary, August 18- September 30, 2012.

“Art Myth and Culture-Greek Vases from Southern Collections,” New Orleans Museum of Art, 21 November 1981-14 February 1982.
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC

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