Ancient Greek Art: Herakles and the Amazons by Euphronios

Okay so we're now looking at another vase by Euphronius. Remember this is the guy that did the Herakles and Antaeus vase and the subject matter on this one is Herakles fighting the Amazons or Amazonomachy which is the same subject matter that we saw on part of the frieze from the Temple of Apollo at Bassae. You'll notice as well that there's also a mini frieze above the main scene on this particular vase and it seems to be a scene of revelry and while at the end of this video is point out to you my absolute favourite figure of this particular frieze who happens to have some pretty nifty dance moves so we'll come to him in a little bit of a while. So like Euthymides Euphronius is also interested in anatomy and if you have a look at the black and white image at the bottom of the screen and specifically at Herakles you'll see the attention to detail in terms of muscles and his legs is very much like what we saw with Herakles and Antaeus on that vase. I remember describing it to you almost as an anatomical drawing in that respect because it looks as though you can almost see inside the body as well the tendons and the way in which the body is reacting to movement. The other thing that Euphronius is interested in just like Euthymides is foreshortening that idea of trying to create a 3D image or adding depth to figures on a 2D space and the best example that I can point out for you is actually the amazon on the bottom right hand side who turns her foot or twists her foot towards the viewer to give that impression again of depth. Of course the way in which Euphronius is different to Euthymides is that his figures no longer are spaced out but they now overlap making the scene richer and more complex which is much more appropriate for a scene of conflict and adds that kind of chaotic feel. In fact we've even got some figures that are fallen at the bottom of the scene between the feet of the standing Herakles. Now there is a little bit of order in the sense that some figures are actually mirrored in their poses so the fallen warrior that you can see below Herakles has a mirror image to the left hand side of her which you can't quite see because of the images below but you can just about make out the leg which is bent to mirror to mirror theirs and on the right hand side of course we've got the amazons in mirrored poses too so we've got that little bit of balance amongst an otherwise chaotic scene. Finally I just wanted to point out the way in which the the Greeks led by Herakles and the amazons are contrasted with one another. So first of all you'll notice the very different clothing so especially the amazon on the bottom right in the kind of stripy onesie although don't refer to it as that please it's that kind of Phrygian all-in-one costume we saw on Paris from the Temple of Thea at Aegina contrasted with Herakles who's heroically nude for a start but just what we know of Greeks they tend to to more often wear hoplite armour but also in the weapons that they're using so they're fighting with a bow and arrow long distance fighting with Greeks more typically you'd see hand-to-hand combat with swords shields or in this case Herakles and his club.