Athlete with discus
Red-figure pelike. Attic.By the Geras Painter.
Clay. 490—480 BCE.
Height: 18.7 cm. Diameter: 14.8 cm. Inv. No. IV. 905.Vienna, Museum of Art History
Athlete with discus.
Red-figure pelike. Attic.
By the Geras Painter.
Clay. 490—480 BCE.
Height: 18.7 cm. Diameter: 14.8 cm.
By the Geras Painter.
Clay. 490—480 BCE.
Height: 18.7 cm. Diameter: 14.8 cm.
Inv. No. IV. 905.
Vienna, Museum of Art History
(Wien, Kunsthistorisches Museum).
Origin:
From Nola.
Description:
The athlete holds a discus in his hands. He is represented in the phase of the preparatory swinging movements, arms raised and right leg forward. “Such was the splendour of his body, which inspired the admiration of the innumerable Greeks, when he hurled the discus...” (Bacchylides, Ode VII strophe B). Behind the athlete is a post indicating the training area. The B side features Nike, goddess of victory, crowning a young victor; to triumph at the Games is to win divine glory. Discus-throwing was part of the pentathlon which comprised 5 disciplines: discus, javelin, long jump, stade race and wrestling.
D. Vanhove
Literature:
F. Eichler, CVA Oesterreich 2, Wien, Kunsthistorisches Museum II (Vienna, 1959) pl. 73, 3—5 p. 19. K. Gschwantler — W. Oberleitner, Götter, Heroen, Menschen — Antikes Leben im Spiegel der Kunst (Vienna, 1974) no. 244 p. 77. A. Bernard Walcher-Mag. Johann Lehner, Alltag, Feste, Religion — Antikes Leben auf griechischen Vasen (Vienna, 1991) no. 6 p. 56.
Credits:
© 1993. Photo, text: Olympism in antiquity. Olympic Museum Lausanne. Bertelsmann UFA. Industria Gráfica S. A. Barcelona, 1993, p. 98 cat. no. 41.
© Photograph — I. Kitbitschka (Kunsthistorisches Museum-Vienna).
© 1993 — Comité International Olympique.
© Photograph — I. Kitbitschka (Kunsthistorisches Museum-Vienna).
© 1993 — Comité International Olympique.
