Ancient Greek Art: The Return of Hephaestus

Return of Hephaestus, with Dionysus & Satyrs | Greek vase, Athenian red figure oinochoe

"Hephaistos refused to listen to any other of the gods save Dionysos - in him he reposed the fullest trust - and after making him drunk Dionysos brought him to heaven." - Pausanias, Guide to Greece 1.20.3

K7.4 THE RETURN OF HEPHAISTOS

Museum Collection: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, USA
Catalogue Number: New York 08.258.22
Beazley Archive Number: 216948
Ware: Attic Red Figure
Shape: Oinochoe
Painter: Attributed to the Eretria Painter
Date: ca 430 BC
Period: High Classical

SUMMARY

Hephaistos is led back to heaven by the god Dionysos. The pair ride together on the back of a donkey, one wearing a workman's hat and carrying tongs, the other crowned with ivy and holding a drinking cup. A flute-playing Satyros leads the procession, followed by a Satyriskos (boy satyr) waving the thyrsos (pine-cone tipped staff) of Dionysos.

NOTEThis is a drawing of the vase rather than a photographic representation.

ARTICLES Hephaistos, Dionysos, Satyroi