Nolan Amphora (storage jar): Demeter and Triptolemos; Pluton

Artists

Description

Red-figure Nolan amphora, minor restorations. SIDE A: Demeter and Triptolemos. The goddess Demeter, left, wears a peplos, earrings, and a crown with a veil. With her right hand she proffers grain, which is added in red paint, to Triptolemos. She holds a scepter in her left hand. Triptolemos, right, wears a chlamys and a petasos. The hat hangs on the back of his neck by a cord added in red paint. SIDE B: Plouton (Pluto). The god holds a large cornucopia, or horn of plenty. The presence of Plouton on this vase in connection with Demeter calls to mind Hades’ abduction of Persephone. Demeter’s meeting and encounter with Triptolemos occurred while she was searching for Persephone, which resulted in Triptolemos spreading the goddess’ gift of agriculture throughout the land. Plouton's cornucopia implicates his partial, indirect agency in the spread of agriculture in Greece.

Dimensions

actual: 36.5 x 16.7 cm (14 3/8 x 6 9/16 in.)

Provenance

V. Simkhovitch; Charles L. Morley to Frederick M. Watkins; Gift to the Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University, 1959.