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Round scaraboid gem with Achilles spearing Penthesileia
Greek
Late Archaic Period
Early 5th century B.C.
Medium/Technique
Carnelian
Dimensions
Length: 16 mm (5/8 in.)
Credit Line
Bartlett Collection—Museum purchase with funds from the Francis Bartlett Donation of 1912
Accession Number27.682
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsJewelry, Ancient Greece and Rome
ClassificationsJewelry / Adornment – Scarabs and scaraboids
Catalogue Raisonné
Lewes House Gems, no. 031 (1920; 2002, additional published references).
DescriptionIntaglio. Pierced (horizontally). Motif oriented vertically. Achilles, at the right, steps forward with his left leg onto Penthesileia's right ankle, and pierces her with a spear he holds in his right hand; he holds a round shield in his left hand. He wears a crested helmet and a cloak fastened around his neck. His hair and sideburns, visible beneath his helmet, are indicated by a series of pellets. He has an "archaic smile." Behind him, in the field, a star. Penthesileia, at the left, falls to the ground, while holding a bow in her right hand and a spear in her left. She wears a short dress with many folds, belted around the waist; a pointy cap, a necklace, and round drop earring. Her hairline is also rendered by a series of pellets. Ground line of pellets between two lines. Hatched border. Stone has been pared on all sides; much of the border is lost, and Penthesileia is very close to edge of the field.
ProvenanceBy 1917: with Edward Perry Warren (according to J. D. Beazley, The Lewes House Collection of Ancient Gems, no. 31: from Cyprus; bought from Mrs. W. T. Ready in 1917); April 5, 1926: loaned to MFA by Edward Perry Warren (as 89.26); November 17, 1927: purchased by MFA from Edward Perry Warren for $ 161,000.00 (this figure is the total price for MFA 27.647-27.761)