Neck Amphora by Exekias (Berlin F 1720) facts for kids
The Neck Amphora by Exekias is a special ancient Greek vase. It's a type of amphora with a neck, made in the black figure style. A famous artist named Exekias created it. Today, you can find this vase in the Antikensammlung Berlin museum, displayed in the Altes Museum. One side shows the hero Herakles fighting the Nemean lion. The other side shows the sons of Theseus, which was their first time appearing in Athenian art. It took nearly 150 years to fully put the amphora back together after it was found, because of some problems and challenges.
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What is the Exekias Amphora?
This clay vase is about 40.5 centimeters (16 inches) tall. It was made around 545 or 550 BC. It uses the black figure style, which was popular then. The artist Exekias was a master of this style. He even added his own new ideas to it.
The vase is broken in some places, but most of it is still there. One of its two handles is missing. Also, a few pieces from the main body of the vase are gone. But the parts that remain are in good shape.
Decorations and Artist's Signature
Both sides of the vase have designs around the main pictures. These designs look like chains of lotus flowers and buds. The areas near the handles are decorated with swirling volutes and leaf-like palmettes.
On the rim of the vase's mouth, Exekias signed his work. It says in Greek: "Exekias painted and made me." He was a very well-known artist and potter from Athens.
Heroes on the Vase
One side of the vase shows a famous battle. It's Herakles fighting the Nemean lion. This was one of the twelve difficult tasks Herakles had to complete. Herakles is shown strangling the lion, whose skin was so tough it couldn't be hurt.
His brother Iolaos and the goddess Athena are watching the fight. Herakles is naked, with his left arm around the lion's neck. He holds the lion's paw in his right hand. The lion is trying to get away from him. Red paint adds details like Iolaos' beard and Athena's shield.
On the other side of the vase, you see two sons of Theseus. Their names are Akamas and Demophon. They are shown with their horses, named Kalliphora and Phalios. These names are written on the vase.
Between the two horses, there's a special message. It says "Onetorides is gorgeous." Both men carry large round shields on their backs. They also have two spears over their shoulders. Their helmets have tall red plumes. It's thought that Theseus' sons are leaving to fight in the Trojan War.
Why These Heroes?
These scenes bring together two important Greek regions. Herakles was a hero from the Peloponnese area. Theseus' sons represented the people of Athens. This vase is the first time Theseus' sons appear in art from Athens.
Showing them getting ready for the Trojan War was important. It helped Athens feel as important as other powerful cities like Sparta. Later, Theseus' sons became symbols of Athens' growing pride and power.
How the Amphora Was Found and Fixed
This vase has an interesting story about how it was found and put back together. It was discovered in an ancient Etruscan burial ground. This place was called Ponte dell' Abbadia, near Vulci in Italy.
Ancient Greek vases were often sent to Etruria. There, they were sometimes buried with people. Many works by Exekias have been found in these Etruscan graves.
Early Discoveries and Repairs
When the amphora was found in the 1820s, it was already broken. Some pieces were even missing. The parts that were found were not collected very carefully. The first time it was put back together, it wasn't done perfectly.
In the 1800s, it was common to replace missing pieces. These new parts were painted to make the vase look whole. After this first repair, the amphora was owned by an artist named Eduard Magnus. Later, it went to a new museum in Berlin in 1831.
Later Repairs and Reunions
In the 1920s, the amphora needed to be fixed again. The old repairs and added pieces were mostly removed. Any new additions were made to look different from the original parts.
During World War II, the vase was stored safely in a bunker. After the war, it was taken to the Soviet Union. But in 1958, it was returned to the Berlin museum. This was a special return, as many other items were not sent back.
A Missing Piece Found!
In the 1970s, an archaeologist named Erika Kunze-Götte found two small pieces of pottery in Munich. She thought they might belong to the Exekias amphora. There was a lot of communication between the museums in Munich and East Berlin.
They exchanged photos and drawings. Finally, a special mold confirmed the pieces fit! It's thought these pieces were found later or simply missed before. After some discussion, the museums agreed to exchange the pieces. Munich sent the fragments to Berlin. In return, Berlin sent a decorated vase lid to Munich. This exchange took seven years to finalize, but it happened in 1988.
After all the pieces were together, the vase was repaired again in 1990. They removed the modern additions and put in the newly found fragments. They even found that earlier repairs had made the gaps too small. So, the vase had to be taken apart completely.
This turned out to be a good thing! During this process, they found an original letter under old paint. They also found where the original handle had been attached. Some hidden messages were found inside the vase pieces. These messages said things like "The boy is gorgeous." Experts think an earlier restorer might have added these as a joke. The final restoration was finished in 1991.
Today, you can see the amphora in the Altes Museum. It's displayed with other works by Exekias and a similar vase from his workshop. This other vase also shows Herakles fighting the Nemean lion.
