Title of the work
Studio / Production Company
Country of the First Edition
Country/countries of popularity
Original Language
First Edition Date
First Edition Details
Pinax. Gods and Heroes. Heracles [πίναξ. θεοί και Ηρωες: Ηρακλής]. Thetis Authentics Ltd., 2013
Official Website
thetis.gr (accessed: October 30, 2018)
Genre
Puzzles and games
Target Audience
Crossover (5+;Instructions state: Keep away from children under 3-4 yrs old)
Cover
We are still trying to obtain permission for posting the original cover.
Author of the Entry:
Sonya Nevin. University of Roehampton, sonya.nevin@roehampton.ac.uk
Peer-reviewer of the Entry:
Susan Deacy, University of Roehampton, s.deacy@roehampton.ac.uk
Elżbieta Olechowska, University of Warsaw, elzbieta.olechowska@gmail.com
Thetis Authentics Ltd. (Company)
Thetis Authentics was founded by Dr Eleni Aloupi-Siotis in 1999, replacing the 1994-founded Thetis Hellas archaeological consulting company based in Athens, Greece. Thetis Authentics uses non-invasive techniques to date artefacts and art, mostly for museums and private collections. The company expanded to include the creation of ceramic replicas of ancient artefacts. Dr Aloupi-Siotis holds a PhD in Analytical Chemistry based on research on archaeological ceramics at the Institute of Materials Science (NCSR Demokritos, Athens/University of Ioannina). She taught Archaeometry at the University of Thessaly before going on to work as a forensic expert at the Greek Ministry of Justice’s Court of Appeals, and, then, to found Thetis Hellas.
Sources:
Official website (accessed: October 30, 2018);
Eleni Aloupi's profile at independent.academia.edu (accessed: October 30, 2018).
Prepared by Sonya Nevin, University of Roehampton, sonya.nevin@roehampton.ac.uk
Summary
For a summary introduction to the series, please see the Pinax. Gods and Heroes. Athena [πίναξ. θεοί και Ηρωες. Αθηνά] entry in this database.
This particular pinax shows Heracles fighting the Lernaean Hydra, a scene from the Twelve Labours. There is a cardboard mount that can be used to display the pieces once the scene has been assembled.
Analysis
For an analysis of the series overall, please see Pinax. Gods and Heroes. Athena [πίναξ. θεοί και Ηρωες. Αθηνά] entry in this database.
The puzzle under review features Heracles slaying the Hydra (based on a hydria now in the J. Paul Getty Museum, ref. 83.AE.346; Beazley Archive ref. 1002891). Heracles is one of the more famous classical heroes in the modern world. Young people playing with the puzzle may already know him as a character. Where this is the case, the puzzle extends young people's understanding of the hero by presenting him through an ancient representation. Only a section of the vase is reproduced, featuring Heracles tackling the Hydra, but not Iolaus helping him.
Further Reading
Getty Museum education page for the vase featured in this puzzle (accessed: May 30, 2019).
