Thetis was one of the daughters of the sea god Nereus and Doris, and the most famous of the Nereids. As the mother of Achilles she also holds an important place in the Homeric epics.
The iconography of this composition: The most important element identifying Thetis is that she is depicted together with fish. The large fish held in each of the figure's hands symbolise her bond with the world of the sea. The other fish swimming around her make it plain that the scene takes place in a marine setting. Her lightly moving garment and graceful stance are typical features of Nereid depictions. The white-figure-on-red technique recalls the decorative sensibility found in Attic ceramics of the Late Archaic and Early Classical periods, while the checkerboard pattern on the outer border is one of the ornamental schemes used on certain Attic kylikes and plates.
Her importance in mythology: Zeus and Poseidon are both drawn to Thetis. A prophecy, however, declares that the son she bears will be mightier than his father. Thetis is therefore married to the mortal hero Peleus, and from this marriage Achilles is born. Thetis makes various attempts to render her son immortal; in the best-known account she dips Achilles in the river Styx, and because she holds him by the heel that part remains vulnerable. In Homer's Iliad it is again Thetis who has the god Hephaistos make new armour for Achilles.
Her place in art history: In ancient ceramics Thetis is most often seen in three ways: wrestling with Peleus, rising from the sea in the company of sea nymphs, or alone among fish and sea creatures. The rhythmic placement of the fish around the figure presents her directly as mistress of the sea.
This piece was reproduced using the terra sigillata technique, remaining faithful to the original ancient example.