Dickinson College Commentaries

Euphronios Krater

Hypnos (foreground center left) and Thanatos (foreground center right) lift the body of Sarpedon (foreground center) overseen by Hermes (background center). Sarpedon bleeds from three wounds-one to the left pectoral, one to the lower right abdomen, and one to the right thigh. Hermes wears his winged helmet and carries his caduceus in his left hand. His right hand is raised, perhaps in direction. The scene is flanked by Laodamas and Hippolytos. All the characters are named by inscriptions.

Apollo seated with lyre, Farnese collection

Apollo sits on a rock holding his lyre in his left hand and plectrum in his right. He wears a long robe and a crown of olive(?) leaves on his head.

Diana hunting, detail of a fresco from the Via Livenza hypogeum

Diana stands (foreground center) in a forest flanked by two deer in the background. She holds a bow in her left hand and reaches over her shoulder to draw an arrow from her quiver with her right hand. She is dressed in a knee length tunic and calf-high boots.

Overview of the Sanctuary of Demeter and Kore, Eleusis

View over the excavations of the Sanctuary of Demeter and Kore from the base of the hill, including the area of the Telesterion.

Photo of the constellation Libra

Photo of the night sky with the constellation Libra outlined

Hades and Persephone holding court, detail from an Apulian red-figure krater

Hades and Persephone (center) sit on a couch in their palace. Persephone glances toward Hades who looks out at Hermes (upper right) and Orpheus (lower right). Hermes sits on a stool holding a hydria in his right hand and his caduceus in his left. Below him Orpheus stands holding a kithara in his right hand and plectrum in his left. Megara sits on a pedestal outside the palace(upper left) with her two sons. Below (lower left) a woman, possibly Hecate, stands holding torches in each hand.

Herakles presenting Cerberus to Eurystheus, detail of a black-figure hydria attributed to the Eagle Painter

Herakles (left), wearing his lion skin, holds his club in his right hand, and Cerberus' leash in his left. Cerberus (center) lunges toward a large storage jar (left) in which Eurystheus is hiding. Snakes coil in front of Cerberus' snouts and front paws.

Drölling: Orphée et Eurydice

Orpheus (left) naked except for a cloak, rushes towards Eurydice (foreground right) who falls into Mercury's arms (background right) to Hell. Orpheus' left hand is outstretched toward Eurydice, barely grazing her arm. His right hand is raised, palm toward the viewer in denial or supplication. Mercury is mostly obscured by shadow, identified by his winged helmet. A lyre lies on the ground at at Eurydice's feet.

Kratzenstein-Stub: Orpheus and Eurydice

Eurydice (left) and Orpheus (right) reach for each other as she is pulled back into the underworld. Her arms are raised over her head and her body is bowed as she strains toward Orpheus; her dress blows toward Orpheus with the speed of her movement.

Orpheus charming the animals, detail of a Roman Mosaic

Orpheus (center) sits on a rock under a tree. He holds his lyre in his left hand. His right arm is extended and he holds the plectrum in his right hand. Various animals (including a tortoise, bull, peacock, tiger, and deer) surround him listening attentively.