text: Exact museum reproduction of a fine ancient Greek black figured belly Amphora.(more information on Black figure pottery...)
  This amphora, painted by the famous Athenian painter Exekias, features on one side Achilles and Ajax sitting on a low chest or block stooping over another block. Achilles sits on the left, helmet on his head with the tail of the crest drooping forward. He, like Ajax, holds two spears in his hand. On the extreme left is Achilles' shield resting against the wall It is decorated with a satyr's head and a snake above and a panther below. On the right the shield of Ajax is decorated with a bearded Gorgon's head and snakes above and below. (find out more about Achilles...)
  On the other side we see the return of the Dioscuri. Polydeuces is welcomed by his dog. Further towards the center comes his mother, Leda, carrying a flower and some twigs. She holds them out towards Castor who is in front ofher but in the act of leading his nurse away. On the extreme right is Tyndareos patting the horse on his muzzle. A small slave boy brings out a stool with a change of clothing on it. About 540 BC. The Vatican Museum, Italy.