Classical Greek ceramic plate depicting Oedipus and Sphinx

Handmade greek ceramic plate depicting Oedipus and Sphinx
 

The hand-painted ceramic plate depicting Oedipus and Sphinx, is a replica of the original 5th century attic kylix of the Painter of Oedipus, an Attic ceramist, found at Vulci (Italy), which is now on permanent display at the Vatican Museum, in Rome. A lovely and unique souvenir from Greece!

The plate depicts Oedipus, the mythical Greek king of Thebes and tragic hero in Greek mythology, meeting the Sphinx at the crossroads on his journey between Thebes and Delphi. Oedipus is portrayed seated and dressed as a wayfarer, listening to the riddle formulated by the sphinx of Thebes, who devoured all those who did not know how to answer. Oedipus must answer the Sphinx's riddle correctly in order to pass. If he fails to answer correctly, he and the besieged Thebans will die.

The riddle was: What walks on four feet in the morning, two in the afternoon and three at night?. Oedipus answered: Man: as an infant, he crawls on all fours; as an adult, he walks on two legs and; in old age, he uses a walking stick.

Oedipus was the first to answer the riddle correctly. Having heard Oedipus' answer, the Sphinx was astounded and inexplicably killed herself by throwing herself into the sea. Oedipus thereby won the freedom of the Thebans, the kingdom of that city, and a wife Jocasta, who was later revealed to be his mother.


 

Dimensions

24 x 24 x 2 centimeters
9.45 x 9.45 x 0.79 inches

Material

Ceramic

Color

€53.00

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