Francesca Hickin
Head of Department
Lot 79
An Etruscan terracotta cinerary urn and lid
6 July 2021, 15:00 BST
London, New Bond StreetSold for £10,837.50 inc. premium
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Anna Marston
Associate Specialist
An Etruscan terracotta cinerary urn and lid
Circa 3rd-1st Century B.C.
The rectangular chest-shaped urn decorated in relief with a scene of the brothers Eteocles (Evzicle) and Polyneikes (Fulnice) in combat, flanked by winged figures holding torches, the lid moulded in the shape of the deceased wrapped in a himation and sleeping on a cushion, with remains of yellow, red and white pigment and glaze, especially on the lid, 39cm high inc. lid, 45cm long
Circa 3rd-1st Century B.C.
The rectangular chest-shaped urn decorated in relief with a scene of the brothers Eteocles (Evzicle) and Polyneikes (Fulnice) in combat, flanked by winged figures holding torches, the lid moulded in the shape of the deceased wrapped in a himation and sleeping on a cushion, with remains of yellow, red and white pigment and glaze, especially on the lid, 39cm high inc. lid, 45cm long
Footnotes
Provenance:
Axel Guttmann (1944-2001) collection, Berlin (accompanied by an old collection card).
The Axel Guttmann Collection of Ancient Arms and Armour, Part 2; Christie's, London, 28th April 2004, lot 120.
Private collection, UK.
Eteocles and Polyneikes were the sons of Oedipus, King of Thebes, and Jocasta. The plays Oedipus at Colonus by Sophocles and Seven Against Thebes by Aeschylus detail the tragic ending of the two brothers. After the exile of Oedipus the brothers agreed to reign over Thebes in alternate years. Eteocles, at the end of his term, refused to hand over the throne to his brother. Polyneikes, determined to claim his throne, lead a group of allied Argive soldiers into battle against Thebes. During the battle the two brothers met in combat and killed each other, fulfilling the curse foretold by their father Oedipus. This scene of fratricide was popular on Etruscan cinerary urns during the Hellenistic Period, probably partly due to the popularity of Aeschylus' play commemorating the saga.
The British Museum has various cinerary urns decorated with the same scene, showing the brothers Eteocles and Polyneikes fighting for the right to rule Thebes, including acc. nos. 1756,0101.1124 and 1850,0514.1, which have a similarly moulded lid.