Handwritten: "Neptune with a sceptre and Amymone daughter of Danaüs with her hydria at her feet are seated in a grotto near the fountain of Lerna behind which is an edicule that indicates the source of the Lerna River. Beside her is Ganymede crowned with myrtle, holding a wand (to roll his hoop). His hand rests on a stele and beside him is a labre symbol of the purifications practised in the mysteries. Ganymeda or Hebe ... holds a pyxis. A hind stands before her. Flowers and pebbles are on the earth. Above the grotto are Aphrodite with Pothos ... [She] holds a mirror up to Eros who spears a serpent with an egg before it. Apollo or Cyparissus ... seats [sic] on a tomb. His attributes are a hind, a strigil and a bag to hold his sponge."
Source Note: Elite des monuments céramographiques : matériaux pour l'histoire des religions et des moeurs de l'antiquité. (Paris : Leleux, 1844-1861) Lenormant, Charles (1802-1859), Author.

Physical Description

Lithographs
Extent: 34.5 x 52 cm

Abstract

A "hydria" is a water jug. Lerna was the name of a marsh and a little river, supposedly where Herakles slew the giant snake called the Hydra. An "edicule" ("little edifice") is a small structure built over a tomb or sacred spot. Ganymede was a beautiful young boy carried off to Mount Olympus by Zeus in the form of an eagle. The fact that he still plays with a hoop shows his youth. A "labre" is a wash-basin. A "pyxis" is a jewel box. Pothos was a personification of desire, often shown as a companion of Aphrodite. Cyparissus was a man who grieved so much after accidentally killing his favorite stag that the gods turned him into a cypress tree. A "strigil" is an implement which looks like a tiny sickle or a blunt-edged straight razor, used to scrape off sweat and dirt after exercising. The sponge and carrying bag were both used in bathing.

Identifiers

Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): 1059db40-c5bf-012f-0092-58d385a7bc34

Rights

The New York Public Library believes that this item is in the public domain under the laws of the United States, but did not make a determination as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. This item may not be in the public domain under the laws of other countries. Though not required, if you want to credit us as the source, please use the following statement, "From The New York Public Library," and provide a link back to the item on our Digital Collections site. Doing so helps us track how our collection is used and helps justify freely releasing even more content in the future.

Type Of Resource

Still Image

Date Issued

1844

Cite this item

MLA format

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. "Neptune with a sceptre" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1844 - 1861. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/1059db40-c5bf-012f-0092-58d385a7bc34

APA format

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. (1844 - 1861). Neptune with a sceptre Retrieved from https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/1059db40-c5bf-012f-0092-58d385a7bc34

Chicago/Turabian Format

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. "Neptune with a sceptre" New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed December 12, 2025. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/1059db40-c5bf-012f-0092-58d385a7bc34

Wikipedia citation

<ref name=NYPL>{{cite web | url=https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/1059db40-c5bf-012f-0092-58d385a7bc34 | title= (still image) Neptune with a sceptre (1844 - 1861) | author=Digital Collections, The New York Public Library | accessdate=December 12, 2025 | publisher=The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations}}</ref>