The Niobid Painter | Dickinson College Commentaries

Creation of Pandora, Red-Figure Calyx Krater

Pandora (center) stands facing front, statue-stiff, holding a wreath in each hand, not yet truly alive. She wears a long chiton and fillet. Locks of hair lay over each shoulder. Athena strides toward her from the left holding out a wreath, her spear rests against her left shoulder. Ares walks toward Pandora from the right, looking back over his shoulder at Hermes. Ares is armored, helmeted and carries a shield on his left arm. He holds a spear in his right arm.

Annotations

Detail of the top band of decoration on an Attic red-figure calyx krater (a large two-handled type of vase used for mixing wine and water), showing the creation of Pandora. From left to right are: Zeus (seated, bearded, holding thunderbolt in his right hand, scepter in his right), Poseidon (standing, bearded, trident in left hand, right hand on hip), Athena, Pandora, Ares, Hermes (walking right, looking back at Ares, caduceus in his right hand, wearing winged boots and traveler's hat), and Hera (standing, facing left, scepter in right hand).

Online Resources

British Museum 1856,1213.1

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