Athena and Artemis by Sophilos
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Chariot with Athena and Artemis
Archaic Attic Black Figure, Dinos, H. 0.71 m. Signed by Sophilos, 580 BCE.
British Museum 1971.11-1.1, London.
- The vase depicts a scene from Greek mythology, featuring the goddesses Athena and Artemis riding together in a chariot drawn by one white and three dark horses. Athena holds the reins, while Artemis carries a bow. The chariot is part of a larger procession of gods attending the wedding of Peleus and Thetis.
- Behind their horses walk three Moirai. The Moirai are typically associated with the inevitability of fate and the natural order of life. Their inclusion in the procession of gods attending the wedding of Peleus and Thetis emphasizes the importance of destiny in this mythological event. The wedding of Peleus and Thetis is a pivotal moment in Greek mythology, as it leads to the birth of Achilles, a key figure in the Trojan War.
- By placing the Moirai behind the chariot of Athena and Artemis, the artist Sophilos may be highlighting the inescapable nature of fate and the role it plays in the lives of both gods and mortals. The Moirai's presence serves as a reminder that even the gods are subject to the forces of destiny.
- Additionally, the Moirai are often depicted as maiden goddesses, similar to Athena and Artemis. This grouping of maiden goddesses in the procession may symbolize purity, virginity, and the protective aspects of these deities, particularly in the context of a wedding and the themes of childbirth and nursing.
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