Materials: Marmo pentelico
Dimensions: 52 x 120 cm
Setting: Napoli MAN; inv. 76/128
Provenance: Ercolano, Casa del Rilievo di Telefo
Date: Fine I secolo a.C.

Relief of Telefus, Herculaneum

The relief, which was originally painted in various colors, was hung like a painting on the wall of a room. On the right is depicted the Homeric episode of Telefus, son of Hercules, who, according to the prophecy of an oracle, could be wounded only by the rust of the spear of Achilles, who inflicted the wound. At the left, the oracle predicts to Achilles that he can reach Troy only with Telefus as his guide.