hephaestus 141
clay is remarkably similar to the image of Sethlans/Hephaestus molding
clay on the horse’s neck on the Etruscan mirror. 14
Looking more closely at the image on the Etruscan mirror (fig. 7.7,
plate 8) one notices that the lively- looking artificial horse is chained by its
front foot to a rock hobble. This is an odd detail for a lifeless statue. Odd,
that is, until we recall the ancient Athenian jokes about needing to tether
or bind “living statues” to prevent them from running away (chapter 5).
The chain on the horse’s leg could emphasize how realistic the artificial
horse is— or it could indicate that Sethlans/Hephaestus and his assistant
are making an animated statue of a horse, apparently illustrating an un-
known Etruscan tradition.
Fig. 7.8 (plate 9). Athena making a clay model of a horse; she is holding a handful of clay and
there is a pile of clay at her feet. Above left, a saw, drill, and bow drill. The horse’s back leg is unfin-
ished. Athenian red- figure wine jug, about 460 BC, F 2415. Bpk Bildagentur / Photo by Johannes
Laurentius / Antikensammlung, Staatliche Museen, Berlin / Art Resource, NY.