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Museum August Kestner Antike Kulturen Gemmen, Kameen und Glaspasten. Die Sammlung geschnittener Steine [K633]
Theseus erschlägt den Minotaurus (Gemme) (Museum August Kestner CC BY-NC-SA)
Provenance/Rights: Museum August Kestner / Christian Tepper (CC BY-NC-SA)
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Theseus slays the Minotaur

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Description

The physiognomy of the Minotaur, consisting of a human body and a bull's head, stems from the fact that Zeus, in the form of a bull, fathered this son with Europa. Because of his ugly appearance, Minotaur lived exiled in the labyrinth on Crete.
When King Minos of Crete learned that his son Androgeos had been killed by order of King Aigeus of Athens, he set out against Athens to take revenge. The Athenians were defeated and every nine years since then they had to send seven young boys and seven young girls to Crete, where they were sent into the labyrinth and thus sacrificed to the Minotaur. Theseus, the son of Aigeus, freed Athens from this harsh tribute. With the third tribute journey, he himself went to Crete to kill the monster. This moment is depicted on the gem. (AVS)

Former collection August Kestner, Rome

Material/Technique

Glass paste / carved

Measurements

Height: 1.39 cm, width: 1.06 cm

Detailed description

Der jugendliche Held, in Seitenansicht, ist nackt bis auf eine im Rücken herabfallende Chlamys. Über dem Kopf schwingt er die Keule und reißt mit der anderen Hand den zu Boden gesunkenen Minotaurus, dem er in Ausfallstellung steht, am Horn zurück. Der stierköpfige Mann hebt abwehrend einen Arm. - Grundlinie.

Literature

  • Schlüter, Margildis - Platz-Horster, Gertrud (1975): Antike Gemmen in deutschen Sammlungen IV. Hannover, Kestner Museum, Hamburg, Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe. Wiesbaden, 192 Nr. 951 Taf. 126
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Museum August Kestner

Object from: Museum August Kestner

Das Museum August Kestner ist benannt nach August Kestner (1777-1853). Das älteste städtische Museum in der Landeshauptstadt Hannover wird von einer...

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