The
Andokides Painter is generally considered to be the inventor of the red-figure style of Greek vase painting. Red-figure was an inversion of the hitherto common black-figure style. In the initial phase of red-figure painting, both variants were used side by side. In some cases, like the
belly amphora described here, both styles were used in separate panels on the front and back of the same vase. This amphora is special because both sides depict the same motif in the two different techniques. Thus, both styles can be compared exemplarily. The scenes depict the most important hero of
Greek mythology,
Heracles, drinking while reclining on a
klinē (couch). On the black-figure side, he is shown lying in a flat position, holding a drinking cup (
kantharos) in his right hand. His gaze is directed towards the goddess
Athena, who is standing in front of him. Behind her is
Hermes, wearing winged sandals and a hat, followed by a nude servant, depicted slightly smaller, who is mixing wine in a
dinos. In front of the couch there is a low table with meat, bread and a
kylix. In the background, a vine frames the scene between the hero and the deities. Heracles' weapons are suspended above him, presumably hung on a wall. The red-figure side differs from the black-figure one in a few regards: The servant and the herald god Hermes are absent, as are the weapons. The scene is framed by vines, but they wind about more. Heracles is depicted with his upper body raised from the couch. One of his hands is holding his knee. The two figures are more isolated than on the other scene. The
kantharos is depicted in black, just as it is on the reverse and as a result it stands out much more. Athena is handing Heracles a half-opened flower. The elaborate internal detail renders their clothing much more rich in appearance than on the other side. ==Gallery==