An Ancient Hero

Have you heard of Hercules? The people of ancient Greece believed this mythical hero was courageous and powerful, and they called him Herakles. Many stories were told about the adventures of Herakles, including his twelve labors, which were challenges given to him by a king. One of the challenges was for Herakles to abduct a monster named Kerberos, a three-headed dog who guarded the Underworld, without using force. The scene on the vase pictured here shows Herakles (on the right) dragging Kerberos away. The goddess Athena (center) and god Hermes (left) accompany him. Athena protected Herakles.

In ancient Greece, vases were used to store goods and were offered as gifts and prizes. This vase is called an amphora. Amphoras have two handles, one on either side of their necks. They were used to store oil and wine. Do you have vases in your home? What do you use them for?

Greek vases like this one were made from red clay and then painted with designs. When the vases were fired, or baked, to make them hard, the paint would turn black. Because of this, the style of this vase is known as black figure painting.

Do you have a modern-day hero? Is there someone you admire for his or her abilities, skills or accomplishments? Maybe you know your hero, or maybe he or she is someone you have never met. Think of something your hero has done that you admire and then try drawing it in black marker in a style similar to this painting of Herakles. Use reddish-orange pastels, crayons or chalk to color in the background of your completed drawing.

You can see this amphora and others in the Greek and Roman art gallery on the second level of the Ahmanson Building at LACMA. 

Search Collections Online for other Greek works of art.

Image above:
Edinburgh Painter (attributed to), Neck-Amphora with Herakles and Kerberos Watched By Athena and Hermes, Greece, Attica, late 6th century B.C., ceramic, height: 18 1/2 in. (47 cm); diameter: 11 3/4 in. (29.85 cm), 50.8.19, William Randolph Hearst Collection.

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Artwork of the Month is intended for children but can also be a fun resource for students, teachers, and families who want to learn more about artworks in LACMA's permanent collection and special exhibitions.