Last updated
24/06/2025, 16:01
Originating from Gela, this precious artifact was acquired through an exchange with the Antonino Salinas Archaeological Museum in Palermo.
The krater, dating back to around 470 BC and attributed to the Niobid Painter, depicts the mythological killing of Penthesilea, queen of the Amazons, by Achilles. According to legend, Penthesilea arrived in Troy to honor the death of Hector. When the truce granted by Achilles for the funeral rites of the Trojan hero expired, the queen confronted the Greek warrior who, at the moment he killed her, fell in love with her beauty.
The scene unfolds across the entire surface of the vase with great dynamism, highlighted by the different postures of the characters. Another battle is depicted on the neck of the krater: on one side, men and centaurs clash, while on the other, Pholus is seen offering wine to Heracles, recognizable by the lion skin on his shoulders. This gesture attracts the other centaurs, starting a fierce battle.
Technical information
| Type of artwork | Ceramic |
|---|---|
| Material | Ceramic |
| Measurements | |
| Placement |
Testo tratto da: Tommaso Guagliardo – Donatella Mangione, Guida al Museo Archeologico Regionale di Agrigento, Agrigento 2013, pp. 74-91)
The artwork in the museum
Paths
The territory of Agrigento, Enna, and Caltanissetta (rooms XII-XVII)
A journey through the territories of Agrigento, Enna, and Caltanissetta, from prehistory to the Greek era, through the findings of sites such as Eraclea Minoa and Gela.
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