Homeric and Other Heroic Images
These small images are linked to larger versions. (Click on the smaller one to
see the larger. The larger ones will take a while to load, but are large enough
that you can see details.) They are for private educational use only.
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Thomas Banks (1735-1805), Thetis Rising from the Sea. Marble bas-relief, 1778.
From the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. |
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The mission to Achilles (Iliad 9). Patroclus is on the
right; Phoenix on the left. In the center Odysseus is arguing with Achilles.
The artist is Cleophrades Painter, and the date is ca. 480 B.C. (Photo
Krüger-Moessner). |
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Achilles fights Memnon (an episode not in the Iliad).
Thetis, far left, encourages Achilles. The figure at the far right is Dawn
(Eos), Memnon's mother. Such duels were preceded by Zeus' weighing of the
heroes' souls (psychostasia). Memnon, an Ethiopian prince, was
supposed to be the most beautiful of the Trojans. (Photo Krüger-Moessner). |
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The dragging of Hector's body by Achilles (Iliad 22).
This vase is from the late sixth-century. Achilles is on his chariot, to which
Hector's body is attached. Hector's parents Priam and Hecuba are on the left,
mourning in the Trojan palace. The white mound on the right is Patroclus's
tomb, and his shade is depicted as a small winged figure. It isn't clear who
the winged figure in the foreground is; it may be Iris, who is sent by Zeus to
Priam in Iliad 24 to tell him to ransom Hector's body. (Boston Museum
of Fine Arts Photo Museum.) |
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The ransom of Hector (Iliad 24). Priam and attendants
bearing gifts approach from the left. Hector's corpse lies under Achilles'
couch, and Achilles is depicted as drinking wine on the couch. He is telling a
cup-bearer to bring him more wine. This cup is by the Brygos Painter, ca. 485
B.C. |
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The death of Achilles (not in the Iliad). A drawing of
a lost sixth-century black-figure vase. The vase depicts a battle over the
corpse of Achilles. Ajax protects the corpse from Paris, who appears with his
bow on the right. |
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A sixth-century vase showing the corpse of Achilles being taken
up by another warrior (Ajax?) while Menelaus defends. (Photograph by Maria
Daniels, The University Museum, Philadelphia) |
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A famous early sixth-century vase with Ajax returning Achilles'
corpse to the Achaean camp. Ajax and Odysseus later fought over Achilles'
weapons and armor; Ajax lost, went berserk, and then committed suicide.
(Photograph Furtwängler and Reichhold) |
