Greek Mythology >> Galleries >> Greek Vase Paintings 1 >> K10.1

K10.1 ZEUS & APHRODITE

Zeus & Aphrodite | Apulian red figure vase painting

DETAILS
Museum Collection	The J. Paul Getty Museum, Malibu
Catalogue No.	Malibu 86.AE.680
Beazley Archive No.	N/A
Ware	Apulian Red Figure
Shape	Loutrophoros
Painter	Attributed to the Painter of Louvre MNB 1148
Date	ca. 350 - 340 B.C.
Period	Late Classical

DESCRIPTION

Detail of Zeus, Aphrodite and Eros from a painting depicting the tale of Leda and the Swan.

Zeus, the king of the gods, sits in a palace or temple accompanied by the deities of love and desire. The god is crowned with a wreath (of oak?) and bears a royal sceptre. Astrape (lightning personified) stands to his left (see image T32.1). Aphrodite wears a stephane crown, double necklace, ring and coiled bracelets and holds a device on a cord (possibly a magical love-wheel or iynx). The infant god Eros (Love) sits upon her outstretched arm grasping her chin in supplication. The scene is a prelude to the panel below which depicts Zeus' seduction of Leda in the guise of a swan.