#hiades

Paestan red figure bell krater, atributed to Python Painter, ca. 400-300 BC. Bristish Museum (BM 1890-0210-1)

This scene is absolutely horrifying: yes, Amphitryon and someone called Antenor are in the process of burning Alcmena😟 (it’s speculated that this might be a plot from a lost play by Euripides called "Alkmene"), but she ends up being saved by Zeus, who sends the Hyades (rain-bringing nymphs) to make it rain.

But even though it’s terrible, I love a few details: the Hyades are wearing red dresses because this is happening at dawn. Eos is looking on from the top right (I find that very poetic). Plus, the beautiful embellishments on the clothing, and the smoke (even though it’s smoke and the context is very bad), it’s absolutely stunning. The lightning bolt beneath the pyre and Alcmene looking at Zeus and vice versa. Not to mention that the vases in the Hyades are hydriae (the kind of vases used to carry water) I love it.

I’ve found another depiction of this episode of Alcmene, where Zeus isn’t there but the Hyades are, along with two hydriae.

Campanian red figure neck amphora, attributed to Louvre K491, ca. 400-300BC. British Museum (1873,0820.341)

This second Alcmene looks far more pitiful than the first one because she’s looking down and can’t see Zeus… Amphitryon, I hate you…

Cómo funciona?