Black-Figure Amphora (Storage Vessel) (Primary Title)
attributed to, Group E, Greek, active 560 - 540 BC (Artist)
The first of Herakles’s twelve labors was to slay a fearsome lion that was devouring the people of Nemea (near Corinth). Since swords and arrows could not penetrate the beast’s hide, Herakles killed it with a club and used its own claws to skin it; afterwards, he wore the lion’s skin as both trophy and protection. Herakles performed the labors to atone for killing his wife and children in a fit of madness. As a mortal granted immortality, Herakles was frequently worshipped as a god.
Adolph D. and Wilkins C. Williams Fund
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC
Some object records are not complete and do not reflect VMFA's full and current knowledge. VMFA makes routine updates as records are reviewed and enhanced.
