Detail of the Centuar Nessos on the Terracotta Neck Amphora by the Nettos Painter in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Oct. 2007

Terracotta neck-amphora (storage jar)
Greek, Attic, Proto-Attic, second quarter of the 7th century BC
Attributed to the New York Nettos Painter

Accession # 11.210.1

During the first half of the 7th century BC, vase painters in Athens abandoned the almost abstract geometric tradition in favor of a vigorous naturalistic style inspired by art imported from the Near East. An early representation of a Greek myth is shown on the front of this monumental vase. The great hero Herakles strides to the left, sword in hand, grabbing the hair of Nessos, a centaur who had tried to abduct Herakles' wife Deianeira. The two components of the centaur- horse and man- are not well integrated in this early representation, but the creature shows emotion, pleading for mercy with outstretched hands. Behind Herakles, a four-horse chariot and a drive wait patiently for the outcome of the battle, while a small man attracted by the excitement rushes forward. The scene is depicted with a combination of outine and silhouette enlivened by white and incised lines. A lion attacks a deer on the neck of the vase and horses graze on the shoulder, but most of the surface is filled with floral motifs and curvilinear decorations. This vase served as a grave marker.

Text from the Metropolitan Museum of Art label.