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The abduction of Persephone 

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The Tomb I of the Great Tumulus with the Royal Tombs at Aigai is decorated with a fresco depicting the abduction of Persephone by Hades. Pluto has already grabbed Persephone and is carrying her to the underworld with his quadriga (chariot with four horses). Persephone, half-naked, tries to escape. Ahead of the chariot is Hermes Nymphagogos (leader of the bride), wearing a petasos (broad-brimmed hat), chlamys, and winged sandals, and holding the caduceus (a thin laurel or olive rod with two small wings and two snakes revolving around the rod facing each other, symbol of Hermes). He leads them to the Underworld. One of Persephone's friends watches the scene from behind the chariot, petrified with terror. On the tomb’s west wall, the goddess Demeter is depicted, sitting on a rock and mourning her daughter's loss. The three Moirai appear on the south wall.


Caption Fresco from a tomb in Vergina with the abduction of Persephone by Hades

Mythic people Demeter (Deity), Hermes (Deity), Hades (Deity) ,Persephone (Goddess)

Type Wall painting

Origin Tomb I, Vergina

Current position Museum of the Royal tombs of Aigai, Vergina

Dating 350 BC

LIMC Url

Notes

Museum Aigai Royal Tombs (aigai.gr)

Museum of the Royal Tombs of Aigai (Vergina) - Wikipedia

Κοτταρίδη Α., Αιγές. Η Βασιλική μητρόπολη των Μακεδόνων. Κοινωφελές Ίδρυμα Ιωάννη Σ. Λάτση. 2013. (για την τοιχογραφία βλ. σελ. 282-285)

νυμφαγωγός - Ancient Greek (LSJ)

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