The Ancient World

The Sophilos Dinos, Painted by Sophilos, Ancient Greece, 580 BC-570 BC

“It shows the Wedding of Peleus and Thetis, above friezes of real and imaginary animals. Peleus receives the wedding guests at his house; among them Dionysos, Hebe, and the centaur Cheiron. Between the columns of Peleus’ house is the artist’s signature “Sophilos painted me”. The first chariot in the procession carries Zeus and Hera, the second Poseidon and Amphitrite, the third Hermes and Apollo and the fourth Ares and Aphrodite. Between the chariots walk groups of Fates, Graces and Muses, one of whom plays the pipes. Athena and Artemis ride in the last chariot, and are followed by Thetis’ grandfather, the fish-tailed sea-god Okeanos, his wife Tethys, and Eileithyia, goddess of childbirth. Hephaistos brings up the rear, seated side-saddle on a mule.”

The British Museum