Apollo, Athena, and Dionysus

Apollo, Athena, and Dionysus
Neck amphora from Etruria, Attic Black Figure. Side A. Height 40.6 cm. Attributed to Leagros Group, 510-500 BCE. Putnam Museum AR 47.58, Davenport.

• Athena, carrying a large spear in her right hand and wearing a peplos and the aegis, moves to the right while turning to face Apollo. Her left hand reaches toward her helmet. Behind the Goddess is a panther which also moves to the right but whose face is shown frontally. A large bird perches on its curled tail between Apollo and Athena.
• This particular triad (Apollo, Athena, Dionysus) is unusual. One possibility which deserves exploration is the juxtaposition of Apollo, Athena and Dionysus in religious ceremonies during the Pyanepsia festival in Athens. The Pyanepsia was particularly associated with Apollo but on the same day, the 7th of Pyanepsion, Athena and Dionysus were honored in a special ceremony called the Oschophoria (see Parke 1977, 75-81). Perhaps their combination on the vase is a reference to this popular harvest festival.

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