Underworld - Imagining the Afterlife in Ancient South Italian Vase Painting

The ancient Greeks believed that the dead lived on in the Underworld, overseen by Hades. Rituals and religion offered possibilities for a happy existence in the beyond, with the richest evidence from southern Italy. Monumental funerary vases decorated with consolatory scenes from myth are now brought together in one volume, with detailed commentaries and illustrations. Essays by leading experts provide a framework for understanding these intriguing scenes and their contexts.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 11 January 2022
Publisher: Getty Trust Publications

The ancient Greeks believed that the dead continued to exist, under the supervision of Hades in the Underworld. Numerous tales are told of famous sinners, such as Sisyphus, who was doomed to roll his rock forever, and Kerberos, the fierce guard dog, who was captured by Herakles. For ordinary mortals, rituals and religion provided avenues for securing a blissful afterlife. The richest evidence for beliefs about death can be found in southern Italy, where the local Italic peoples interacted with Greek beliefs. Monumental funerary vases, adorned with consolatory scenes from myth, accompanied the deceased. Approximately forty of these vases preserve elaborate depictions of Hades' realm. For the first time in over four decades, these captivating vase paintings are brought together in one volume, accompanied by detailed commentaries and ample illustrations. The catalogue is accompanied by a series of essays by renowned experts in the field, offering a framework for understanding these intriguing scenes and their contexts. Topics covered include attitudes towards the afterlife in Greek ritual and myth, inscriptions on leaves of gold that provided guidance for the deceased; funerary practices and religious beliefs in Apulia; and the significance accorded to Orpheus and Dionysos. Drawing from a diverse range of textual and archaeological sources, this volume serves as an indispensable resource for anyone interested in religion and belief in the ancient Mediterranean.

Weight: 1472g
Dimension: 225 x 276 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781606067345