1. Seuso Research Project
  2. The artefacts
  3. The Hippolytus situlae
Representation of Phaedra on situla B of the Hippolytus set
Representation of Phaedra on situla B of the Hippolytus set
Representation of Phaedra on situla A of the Hippolytus set
Representation of Phaedra on situla A of the Hippolytus set
Vaulted gate separating the two scenes on situla A
Vaulted gate separating the two scenes on situla A
Vaulted gate separating the two scenes on situla B
Vaulted gate separating the two scenes on situla B
Hippolytus throws Phaedra’s letter on situla A.
Hippolytus throws Phaedra’s letter on situla A.
Hippolytus throws Phaedra’s letter on situla B
Hippolytus throws Phaedra’s letter on situla B
Hippolytus on his horse rising on its hind legs by a crooked tree on situla A
Hippolytus on his horse rising on its hind legs by a crooked tree on situla A
Hippolytus on his horse rising on its hind legs by a crooked tree on situla B
Hippolytus on his horse rising on its hind legs by a crooked tree on situla B
Male bust decorating the handle of situla A
Male bust decorating the handle of situla A
The vessels of the Hippolytus set
The vessels of the Hippolytus set

The Hippolytus situlae

The pair of situlae and the ewer, which are decorated with scenes from the story of Hippolytus and Phaedra, presumably made up a set. On all three vessels the same two scenes of the story also written by Ovid can be seen, but they are represented in different styles on each vessel. One scene shows Phaedra suffering from her love for her stepson, sunk in a chair surrounded by her servants. The other scene, which is separated from the former by architectural elements such as a pillar and a vaulted gate, shows Hippolytus getting ready for hunting. He has already received Phaedra’s love letter from her old nursemaid, but throwing it on the floor he refuses his stepmother’s love.

The entire surface of the situlae is decorated with scenes of reliefs. Both stand on three feet each forming gryphons, and male busts can be seen on their handles.

The traces of gilding can be well detected on all three vessels.

Hippolytus situla A
Height: 22.7 cm · Diameter of the body: 24.8 cm
Weight: 4,435 g
Material: silver of 96–99% purity, gilding

 

Hippolytus situla B
Height: 22.9 cm · Diameter of the body: 25.1 cm
Weight: 4,478 g
Material: silver of 95–99% purity, gilding

The artefacts