Music Lesson Volute Amphora Greek Vase
480 BC. Linos, the old man on the left side of the vase was music teacher to many famous personalities including Hercules. Hercules invited his brother to take lessons from the old teacher as well, and brother Iphicles appears on the vase opposite Linos. Both are playing lyres, an ancient stringed instrument.

Now Linos had occasion to remark that gentle, mannered Iphicles was a joy to tutor compared with his loutish big brother who seemed to be musically challenged, especially when it came to his strumming technique on the lyre. Note how Iphicles' eyes are focused on Linos' hands, trying to copy him exactly. Perhaps Iphicles had less on his mind and more time to practice than Hercules who was busy using his large motor skills on his famous twelve labors.

Whatever the reason, teacher Linos became angered one day at Hercules' ineptitude and began to insult him, to which his very large student responded by thumping him on the head with the violated instrument and ending the life of the music teacher.

Hercules was charged with murder, but like demi-gods before and after, was let off, quoting the "Law of Rodamanthis" which states that insults are a form of attack, and that to kill in this case is a manner of self-defense.

Between the two men, another stringed instrument called a "kithara", which is today the modern Greek word for guitar, and is similar in form to German zithers. The lyres held by the musicians could possibly have tortoiseshell sound boxes, and goats horns arms. The reverse of the vase depicts a walking woman playing an "avli", a double-barreled flute, and a man is carrying a low-toned stringed instrument called a "barbiton"- note the difference from the lyre in the way the arms start to come together again and are joined at the very top by a yoke.

This Red Figure Music Lesson Volute Amphora Greek Vase is made from terracotta, in a multicolor finish, and measures 9" H. 6452, $159

Hercules Fighting Ares Greek Vase
On the way to pick the apple of Hesperides, Hercules was challenged to fight by Kykon, son of the war god, Ares. Hercules killed Kyknos and Ares went to avenge his son’s death. Zeus, however, stepped in and broke up the fight with a mighty thunderbolt, forbidding Ares to ever touch Hercules again. This black figure amphora with volute handles depicts Ares in the helmet, holding a shield, fighting Hercules, with his lion skin mantle and full beard. Zeus is in the middle, upraised arms perhaps releasing his thunderbolt. The scene in this vase is perfectly balanced by the bent knee of Ares counterpoised with Hercules bent elbow, and by the projecting spear end of Ares counterpoised with the back leg and lion’s tail of Hercules. Zeus lends centering to the scene with his rectangular, instead of angular, position in the middle.

This Black Figure Hercules Fighting Ares Greek Vase is made from terracotta, in a multicolor finish, and measures 13"H. 6453, $376

Introduction of Hercules to Gods Greek Vase
6th century BC. This vase has intentional, artificial cracks in the glaze to imitate the ancient original piece found in the National Museum of Greece in Athens. The scene shows Poseidon, god of the sea, with a trident in hand, watching, while Hermes, the messenger of the gods, makes a gesture of welcome. Then follows Athena, goddess of wisdom and protector of the city of Athens, carrying a shield with her symbol, an owl. On the right, Hercules has his sword and a bow and arrows in his quiver, which he carries on his back.

Athena is pictured between two columns, thought to be the starting and ending lines of many types of sporting races commonly run at the Olympics and Panathenaic Games.

This Black Figure Introduction of Hercules to Gods Greek Vase is made from terracotta, in a multicolor finish, and measures 11"H. 6454, $349

Greeks Versus Amazons Greek Vase
430 bc, Fierce warriors, they wielded spear and sword in defense of children and motherland. The ancient Greeks considered the Amazons their most fearsome opponents, defenders of an ancient woman-centered faith who had to be defeated that father-rule might prevail---so it is that Penthesilea leads her Amazons in defense of matriarchal Troy. It was the Greeks who named them "Amazon" from a-mazos, that is, "without a breast." And so the legend has come down to us of ferocious women warriors who cut off their right breast, that it not hinder their use of the bow; who fought and often defeated the greatest of the Greek heroes; and who finally retreated into the mist-enshrouded mountains of Anatolia and Armenia and Bactria as wave after wave of patriarchal warriors invaded their lands.

This Black Figure Greeks Versus Amazons Greek Vase is made from terracotta, in a multicolor finish, and measures, 8.5"H. 6455, $149

Abduction of Europa Greek Vase
6th century BC. This black figure vase is subtly colored on a pale beige background with details precisely incised by a knife. The vase is in the Attic Black Figure style and shows Europa riding a bull. The motion depicted on the vase appears to be underwater. Zeus fell in love with Europa daughter of a cattleman from the land of Canaan. Zeus lured Europa to the seashore by having Hermes push her father's cattle to the beach. Following her father and the cattle to the seashore, Europa took a walk on the beach and Zeus appeared to her as a white bull.

Europa was impressed by the beauty of the bull, and amazed at its gentleness. She started playing with him, and at last jumped on its back and started riding him up and down the beach.

Zeus the bull threw himself into the sea and swam off with Europa on his back. Europa eventually had three children with Zeus, Minos, Radamantous, and Sarpedon.

Europa gave birth to three children: Minos, Radamantous and Sarpedon.

This Black Figure Abduction of Europa Greek Vase is made from terracotta, in a multicolor finish, and measures , 13-1/2"H. 6456, $312

Minoan Dolphin Krater Greek Vase
The Minoan Dolphin crater depicts what the Minoans best loved to show in their art: scenes from nature like animals, flowers, and sea life. The Minoans were clearly overjoyed at the abundance of natural beauty which surrounded them on their island. Although the dolphins are stylized in color and marking, details such as the subtle color changes, the lines of the dorsal fin, the curved, flat nose, and the intelligence reflected in the eyes (the dolphins have defined pupils while other fish have just a black dot), show us that the Minoans were highly familiar with these animals. The dolphins are swimming among a variety of small sea life and seaweed. Notice how the dorsal fin of the lower dolphin and the flippers of the top dolphin converge in the center of the fresco to draw the eye, and how the small fish placed randomly show carefully planned asymmetry that indicates artistic sophistication.

Dolphins have often been depicted in Greek and other Eastern Mediterranean art, on vases, coins and jewelry, and obviously occupied a special place in the animal world to these ancient people, as they still do today to the modern Greeks.

This Minoan Dolphin Krater Greek Vase is made from terracotta, in a multicolor finish, and measures 12-1/2"H. 6457, $418