Aurora

Width: 141cm Depth: 7cm Reproduction relief showing Aurora driving a quadriga. Her lover (Tithonus or Cephalus) is at the head. The original neo-Attic relief dates from the first century B.C., but is a replica of a fourth century prototype. Found at Herculaneum, it is in the collection of the Duc de Loule in the Museum of Lisbon. Aurora or Eos, the dawn goddess, who is usually depicted in a two horse chariot drawn by Lampos and Phaeton (Shiner and Bright), was the sister of Helios (the Sun) and led him each day into the Heavens. From the fifth century she was often depicted pursuing or carrying off Cephalus or Tithonus, her lover. According to Homer, her son Memnon was killed by Achilles in the Trojan war; the morning dew is said to be the tears she shed for him.