"Iliou Persis" [Ἰλίου Πέρσις] "The Sack Of Troy" - VI

            The scenes painted by the Nazzano Painter summarize three events narrated by Arctinus of Miletus in his poem Ilioupersis. 
In the upper right corner, the artist paints the killing of Astyanax, Hector’ son. Neoptolemos grabs his leg and, using his white body as a club, is about to strike to death his grandfather Priam. The old king of Troy is portrayed naked and lying on his back in the bottom right corner of the scene. Neoptolemus, portrayed with long hair, is fully armed and wears chiton and cloak; a helmet with a high white crest protects his head. Behind Neoptolemus a Trojan archer, with sandals, sleeved tunic, and Phrygian cap, bends his left knee to the ground, and takes aim at him with his bow.
On the sides two divinities attend: on the left, Zeus, who sits naked, with a cloak behind his shoulders and a scepter on his left hand; on the right Pan, also naked and lying on his cloak.
On the bottom Menelaus finds Helene after a war that lasted 10 years. Helene is naked, her white body is wrapped in a cloak that rises above her head. Menelaus, with long hair, helmet adorned with a star and a large crest, shield and white cuirass on the chitoniskos, advances rapidly from left. He chases the naked woman, while, from the opposite side a Trojan warrior wearing a Phrygian helmet and a fluttering cloak, comes forward with drawn sword and round shield to protect Helen. But she gets out of trouble with a gesture of seduction. She removes the cloak from her body by uncovering her breast, and, with the help of Aphrodite, here identifiable as the richly dressed woman holding scepter in her hand, she manages to confuse her husband who, defeated, drops his sword.
This scene is interesting because the painter shows a rich sense of humor. He highlights the seduction devices used by Helene to enhance her beauty and sweeten her husband's anger. On the floor of the room there is a cist containing a mirror and an alabastron, a typical vase container for perfumes. Menelaus, confused by Helene's beauty, stumbles accidentally against the cyst and, overcame by Helene's appeal, drops his sword.

Faliscan red-figure calyx krater
H. 57.0 cm – D. 45 cm
Attributed to the Nazzano Painter
Ca. 350 BC.
From Civita Castellana (Falerii Veteres) - Viterbo
Rome, Villa Giulia, Museo Nazionale Etrusco, Inv. 1197

   

Taken on: November 2, 2018

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Museo Nazionale Etrusco

Roma

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Menelao

Menelaos

Helen

Elena

Afrodite

Aphrodite

Neoptolemos

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Astyanax

Astianatte

Priam

Priamo

“Nazzano

Painter”

“Pittore

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“figure

rosse”

Krater

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falisca”

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art”

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Etrusca”

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vases”

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etruschi”

Rome

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1197”

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Sets appears in: • The 2nd Trojan War • Iliou Persis more » • Red-Figured Pots • Etruscan Pottery • Krateres • Roma - Museo Etrusco di Villa Giulia « less

Groups appears in: • Greek Mythology • The Ancient World more » • * Ancient ceramic * • World Archaeology & Arts/ΑΡΧΑΙΟΛΟΓΙΑ&ΤΕΧΝΕΣ-Rea • Italy B.C. / Italia a.C. • Heritage Key • Photos at the Museum • ANCIENT WORLD « less

Camera: Nikon D800, f/8.0, 1/60 sec, 44mm, ISO 6400 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D800
Lens:	24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8
Aperture:	f/8.0
Exposure Time:	0.017 sec (1/60)
Focal Length:	44mm
ISO:	6400
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Center-weighted average
White Balance:	Auto
Gain Control:	High gain up
Sharpness:	Hard
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Adobe Photoshop CC 2019 (Macintosh)
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