Plate by Paseas with Herakles, Hermes and Cerberus in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, June 2010

Plate

Greek, Archaic Period, about 525–520 B.C.

By Paseas, Formerly known as Painter of the Cerberus Plate

Place of Manufacture: Athens, Attica, Greece

Dimensions: Height: 18.9 cm (7 7/16 in.); diameter: 18.9 cm (7 7/16 in.)

Medium or Technique: Ceramic, Red Figure

Classification: Vessels

Catalogue Raisonné: Caskey-Beazley, Attic Vase Paintings (MFA), no. 001

Accession Number: 01.8025

Herakles is dragging the three-headed dog (two heads are shown here) Kerberus out of Hades. Hermes is also present, wearing a pointed cap and carrying his herald's wand (kerycheion). Herakles wears his normal costume, the skin of the Nemean Lion, and carries his bow, but in unusual fashion is depicted as a beardless youth. The group stands on the ground line created by the exergue. In the exergue is an elaborate palmette and lotus design.

Condition: Repaired with some restorations.

Text from: www.mfa.org/collections/object/plate-153852