Ancient Greece

Demeter and Kore offering a libation to Triptolemus before he sets out to spread the benefits of agriculture to mankind. Red-figured vase in British Museum. Copy by Diana Webber, 2015.

Thesus carrying off Helen. His friend Potroclus on the left. At the death of his father, Thesus became King of Attica and endowed his people with wise institutions. He united them in a single group, built a communal prytantium in Athens, divided the citizens into three classes, erected temples and instituted the Panatheneae. At the same time, he continued his wandering life of adventure. He accompanied Hercules on an expedition against the Amazons, took part in hunting the wild boar of Calydon and sailed with the Argonauts. Copy by Diana Webber, 2015.

A centaur shouldering a rock, signed Printias, ca. 520 B.C. Copy by Diana Webber, 2015.

Ares & Aphrodite feasting on Olympus. Red-figured cup in the British Museum. Copy by Diana Webber, 2015.

Oedipus and the Sphinx. Attic cup of the fifth century B.C. Vatican Museum, Rome. Copy by Diana Webber, 2015.

A set of drawings by Douris on an Athenian red-figure cup from Vulci in Etruria (490-480 B.C.) The deeds of Theseus are shown to rival the deeds of Herakles, the Athenian hero to be equal to the Dorian demigod. Herakles is a tough, mature man, Theseus is boyish, but he overcommen. Copy by Diana Webber, 2015.

The three graces at their toilet. Red figured cup at the British Museum. Copy by Diana Webber, 2015.

The gods on Olympus. Poseidon, Apollo and Artemus. A marble frieze from the east side of the Parthenon, Athens. British Museum. Copy by Diana Webber, 2015.

Exekias is perhaps the greatest of Athenian painters on pottery. This serene picture is a miracle of Dionysis. The god was captured by pirates but he turned the crew into dolphins and the mast broke out into vines. Copy by Diana Webber, 2015.

A limp Dionysus, holding a lyre, is supported by a girl with a tamborine (perhaps Ariadne) while Eros plays for them. Interior of a cup by the Meleager Painter. The vine leaf around the scene would appear to settle over the level of the wine when cup is used. Early fourth century B.C. Original 24cm. Copy by Diana Webber, 2015.

Aphrodite riding a goose, by Pistoxenos, 470 B.C. Copy by Diana Webber, 2015.

An excited satyr is squatting upon a pointed wine amphora. Centrepiece of a red-figured cup by Onesimos, ca. 500 B.C. Copy by Diana Tanslay Webber, 2015.

A Spartan cup, ca. 550 BC. Prometheus is tethered to a pillar while Zeus’ eagle tears at his liver – a daily punishment. To the left, Atlas is supporting the heavens. From Atlas of the Greek World, page 85. Copy by Diana Webber, 2013.

The combat of Ares and Hephaestus over Aphrodite, watched by Hera on her throne. Now in the British Museum. Copy by Diana Webber, 2015.

The Oracle of Apollo at Delphi. A classical decoration on a bowl made in Athens in the 5th century. From Atlas of the Greek World, page 79. Copy by Diana Webber, 2013.

Thetis and Nereids conveying armour across the sea to Achilles at Troy. Thetis is seated on a hippocamp; the Nereid on a dolphin. Between them is Eros. From a vase in the British Museum. Copy by Diana Webber, 2015.

Celebration of peace, 1934. Etching. Illustration for Aristophanes, “Lysistrata”. Diana Webber, 2015.

A young man carrying a bed and a table through the night sky. Copy by Diana Webber, 2015.

Detail from a vase by the Niobid painter showing Greeks fighting Amazons, ca. 460 B.C. Copy by Diana Webber, 2015.

The birth of Athene, daughter of Zeus and embodiment of wisdom, springs fully armed from her father’s brow, which Hephaestus has just split with an axe. Poseidon and the two goddesses of childbirth, look on. Vase in the British Museum. Copy by Diana Webber, 2015.

The fish merchant shows a cheerful attitude and is typically South Italian, a little Post-classical, signed Printias, ca. 520 B.C. Copy by Diana Webber, 2015.

Athene pouring a libation for Hercules, one of the heroes whom she protected. Interior of a red-figured cup held in the British Museum. Copy by Diana Tansley Webber, 2015.

Orestes & Electra killing Aegisthus in the presence of their mother Clytemnestra. Copy by Diana Webber, 2015.

Satyrs at a party. A Red Figure pyskter (wine cooler). Original by Douris, ca. 480 B.C. Copy by Diana Webber, 2015.

The assassination of Klytaimnestra, drawn on a drinking vessel, now in the Ferrara Museum. From Atlas of the Greek World, page 109. Copy by Diana Webber, 2013.

A satyr being assaulted by a naked girl, signed by Phintias. Copy by Diana Webber, 2015.

Detail from Etruscan black figure vase. Notice the odd vegetation through which Herakles fights a centaur in battle, ca. 530 B.C. Copy by Diana Webber, 2015.

Hermes wearing a winged hat and sandles, carries a wine jar and drinking cup and is accompanied by a satyr who is carrying a lyre. Copy by Diana Webber, 2015.

Hermes speeding across the waves holding a lyre, the instrument he invented and gave to Apollo in exchange for a golden whip, symbol of his role as protector of herds. This exchange of the two gods sealed their friendship. British Museum. Copy by Diana Webber, 2015.