Detail of a Terracotta Hydria with Herakles Wrestling Triton in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, June 2010

Terracotta Hydria (water jar)
Greek, Attic, black-figure, ca. 560-550 BC
On the body, Herakles wrestling Triton
On the shoulder, Achilles pursuing Troilos

Accession # 06.1021.48

Herakles wrestling Triton is a recurrent subject, especially on hydirai and neck-amphorae of the second half of the sixth century BC. No surviving ancient source spells out the story. Its popularity on hydriai is due partly to Triton's being a marine creature and partly to interest in the exploits of Herakles. The pursuit of Troilos is pertinent because, as he fled, his sister Polyxena dropped the hydria in which she was carrying water from the fountain house.

Text from the Metropolitan Museum of Art label.