Terracotta plaque

Unknown

ca. 450 BCE · Terracotta · Greek and Roman Art

Eurykleia washing Odysseus's feet One of the dramatic threads in the account of Odysseus's return to Ithaka is the gradual revelation of his identity. Here, Odysseus appears seated before a columned facade that represents his palace. Before him stand his son, Telemachos, and his wife, Penelope. As the old nurse, Eurykleia, washes Odysseus's feet, she recognizes him from an old scar. Artistic depictions such as this are interesting not only for the illustrative detail that they provide but also for the subjects chosen.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 450 BCE

Medium

Terracotta

Culture

Greek, Melian

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Fletcher Fund, 1925