Attic Black-Figure Lekythos: Herakles wrestling the Cretan Bull

Circa 6th Century BC. The Scene is from The Twelve Labors of Herakles: A slender oil vessel with disc foot, thin neck and flared lip. This is an extremely rare depiction with a mythological scene. John Boardman, in Athenian Black Figure Vases, describes vases with Herakles the Peloponnesian Hero as popular subject matter for Athenian vases. He was closely associated with Athena, the city Goddess. Here on this vessel we have one of the Twelve Labors, Herakles wrestling the Cretan Bull and the moment Herakles brings the bull to his knees is the scene depicted. His bow and arrow quiver hang suspended in the field as well as tendrills and sashes at either end of the scene. The shoulder is decorated with a band of rays and the lower body and foot have black reserve bands. This is a fantastic offering and this vessel even has a two symbol glyph inscribed on the base, perhaps noting the contents or vessel workshop. Size 7 inched (17.78cm) H. Condition: Intact and with normal wear. Repair to h